Abstract
We aimed to determine how the degree of urbanization in a Neotropical city influences Aedes aegypti (L.), a pantropical vector of urban yellow fever, dengue, Zika and Chikungunia, via other mosquito species, whether they are competitors or predators, native to the area or invasive. We conducted experiments twice a month during one year in the city of Kourou, French Guiana, on three sites characterized by increasing percentages of imperviousness (i.e., 0.65%, 33.80% and 86.60%). These sites were located in a ≈5 ha forest fragment, a residential area with gardens, and in the older part of the city, respectively, and correspond to slightly, moderately and highly urbanized sites. There, we monitored twice a month during one year a total of 108 mosquito communities inhabiting four types of containers (i.e., a tank bromeliad, dry stumps of bamboo, ovitraps and car tires) installed in a random block design. In the tanks of the bromeliad, likely due to the acidity of the water, the immatures of native mosquito species prevailed, particularly Wyeomyia pertinans (Williston) in the slightly urbanized site. The general pattern was very similar in the three other types of containers where Limatus durhamii Théobald dominated in the slightly urbanized site, so that the abundance of Ae. aegypti immatures was low compared to those of native species. Yet, Ae. aegypti strongly dominated in the two more urbanized sites. These findings open up perspectives for vector management, including the conservation and/or the augmentation of natural enemies through modifications to landscape features.
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Acknowledgements
Financial support was obtained from the French Agence Nationale pour la Recherche (CEBA, ref. ANR-10-LABX-25-01). The permit for this study was obtained via the Service Départemental de Désinfection of French Guiana. We would like to thank the Ringuet family and the French Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement for allowing us to set up experimental sites on their properties. We are grateful to Andrea Yockey for proofreading the manuscript.
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ST and AD conceived and designed the study; ST and AC analyzed the data; AD and AC wrote the manuscript; ST and FA conceived the figures; CL acquired funding. All authors contributed to the final draft of the manuscript.
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Talaga, S., Compin, A., Azémar, F. et al. Urbanization and Water Containers Influence the Mosquito Community with Consequences for Aedes aegypti. Neotrop Entomol 53, 162–170 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-023-01091-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-023-01091-9