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. 2024 Sep 19;14(1):21886.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-72734-z.

Effects of Hurricane Irma on mosquito abundance and species composition in a metropolitan Gulf coastal city, 2016-2018

Imelda K Moise  1 , Qian Huang  2 , John-Paul Mutebi  3 , William D Petrie  3
Affiliations

Effects of Hurricane Irma on mosquito abundance and species composition in a metropolitan Gulf coastal city, 2016-2018

Imelda K Moise et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Mosquitoes are the most common disease vectors worldwide. In coastal cities, the spread, activity, and longevity of vector mosquitoes are influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and rainfall, which affect their geographic distribution, biting rates, and lifespan. We examined mosquito abundance and species composition before and after Hurricane Irma in Miami, Dade County, Florida, and identified which mosquito species predominated post-Hurricane Irma. Our results showed that mosquito populations increased post-Hurricane Irma: 7.3 and 8.0 times more mosquitoes were captured in 2017 than at baseline, 2016 and 2018 respectively. Warmer temperatures accelerated larval development, resulting in faster emergence of adult mosquitoes. In BG-Sentinel traps, primary species like Ae. tortills, Cx. nigripalpus, and Cx. quinquefasciatus dominated the post-Hurricane Irma period. Secondary vectors that dominated post-Hurricane Irma include An. atropos, An. crucians, An. quadrimaculatus, Cx. erraticus, and Ps. columbiae. After Hurricane Irma, the surge in mosquito populations in Miami, Florida heightened disease risk. To mitigate and prevent future risks, we must enhance surveillance, raise public awareness, and implement targeted vector control measures.

Keywords: And disease; Flooding; Rainfall; Surveillance; United States; Vector-borne disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The spatial distribution of mosquito trap locations by trap type: (a) gravid traps and (b) light traps in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Source: Miami-Dade Mosquito Control and Habitat Management Division, MDC, Florida, 2018. Map generated by the first author using ArcGIS software version 10.31
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Maps of the weekly mean Cx. nigripalpus abundance in light and gravid traps from 2016 to 2018 in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Source: Miami-Dade Mosquito Control and Habitat Management Division, MDC, Florida, 2018. Maps generated by the first author using ArcGIS software version 10.31
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Estimates of mean weekly mosquito captures per trap night, 2016 to 2018, Miami-Dade County, Florida. Source: Miami-Dade Mosquito Control and Habitat Management Division, MDC, Florida, 2018.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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