Coexistence and Spatial Distribution of Invasive and Sylvatic Container-Breeding Mosquitoes in City–Forest Ecotone within the Brazilian Semi-arid

Abstract

Aedes species are vectors of the most significant arboviruses in Brazil with the greatest health and economic impact in the country. However, little is known about the factors that influence the distribution of Aedes, as well as other container-breeding mosquitoes, especially on the border between urban and forest environments. Here, we tested the effect of three phytophysiognomies within the city–forest ecotone in the Brazilian semi-arid region on the spatial distribution of vector mosquitoes. We also investigated the effect of rainfall on the spatial distribution and abundance of mosquitoes and described the interspecific interactions between invasive and native mosquito species. Immatures were sampled during the rainy seasons of 2019–2020 (October 2019 to February 2020) and 2020–2021 (November 2020 to February 2021). In each sampled location, 30 ovitraps were installed in shaded areas. There was a predominance of the Aedes mosquitoes, especially Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti, while three species of Haemagogus (Hg. spegazzinii, Hg. janthinomys and Hg. leucocelaenus) were rarely found. The sylvatic mosquito Ae. terrens was abundant in areas with lower anthropic influence and during higher rainfall regimes with minimal pluviometric variation. This rainfall was also favorable for the presence of the predatory mosquito larvae Toxorhynchites theobaldi. The abundance of invasive Aedes species showed positive correlations with each other and negative correlations with the sylvatic Ae. terrens. Our results demonstrate that human occupation and the rainfall regime affect the interactions between invasive and sylvatic species of container mosquitoes.

Keywords

• mosquito ecology
• <i>Aedes</i>
• <i>Toxorhynchites</i>
• semi-arid
• invasive species