Seasonal surveillance confirms the range expansion of Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae) to the Hawaiian Islands of Oahu and Kauai

• Published in: Journal of Asia-Pacific entomology Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 1366 - 1372
• Main Authors: Harwood, James F., Fiorenzano, Jodi M., Gerardo, Elizabeth, Black, Theodore, LaPointe, Dennis A., Hasty, Jeomhee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-12-2018; 한국응용곤충학회
• Subjects: Bush mosquito; Invasive species; Island dispersal; Larval surveillance; Mosquito surveillance; 농수해양학; Larval surveillance; Invasive species; Island dispersal; Mosquito surveillance; Bush mosquito
• ISSN: 1226-8615; 1876-7990
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aspen.2018.10.015

The Asian bush mosquito, Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald) was not known to occur in the Hawaii archipelago until it was identified on the island of Hawaii in 2003. This mosquito species remained undetected on the neighboring islands for 8 years before it was discovered at the Honolulu International Airport on Oahu in 2012. By 2015, four Ae. j. japonicus mosquitoes were collected in the western mountains of Oahu and one was collected in the central mountains of Kauai. The collection of this invasive mosquito species across the neighboring Hawaiian Islands of Oahu and Kauai indicated the need for increased seasonal surveillance on these islands. Following nearly four years of surveillance, Ae. j. japonicus was also confirmed to occur in the eastern mountains of Oahu and in the central mountainous region of Kauai. To expand the knowledge of the spread of invasive mosquitoes species further surveillance is necessary to identify all possible areas where populations of Ae. j. japonicus and other invasive mosquito species occur in Hawaiian archipelago.
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•Four years of surveillance data suggests Aedes japonicus japonicus is now established on Kauai and Oahu.•Aedes japonicus japonicus is utilizing tires and naturally occurring rock holes as larval habitat on Kauai.•Aedes japonicus japonicus does not occur at elevations below 179 m on Oahu or Kauai.