Insects (Nov 2023)

Effects of the Weather on the Seasonal Population Trend of <i>Aedes albopictus</i> (Diptera: Culicidae) in Northern Italy

  • Marco Carrieri,
  • Alessandro Albieri,
  • Paola Angelini,
  • Monica Soracase,
  • Michele Dottori,
  • Gabriele Antolini,
  • Romeo Bellini

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14110879
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 11
p. 879

Abstract

Read online

Background: Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, has become a prevalent pest in Italy, causing severe nuisance and posing a threat of transmission of arboviruses introduced by infected travelers. In this study, we investigated the influence of weather parameters on the seasonal population density of Aedes albopictus. Methods: A Bayesian approach was employed to identify the best meteorological predictors of species trend, using the eggs collected monthly from 2010 to 2022 by the Emilia-Romagna regional monitoring network. Results: The findings show that the winter–spring period (January to May) plays a crucial role in the size of the first generation and seasonal development of the species. Conclusions: A temperate winter and a dry and cold March, followed by a rainy and hot spring and a rainy July, seem to favor the seasonal development of Ae. albopictus.

Keywords