Global invasion patterns and dynamics of disease vector mosquitoes
Rebecca Pabst, Carla A. Sousa, Franz Essl, Adrián García‐Rodríguez, Daijun Liu, Bernd Lenzner, Anna Schertler, José Luı́s Zêzere, César Capinha
Abstract
Mosquitoes are major vectors of human diseases, and their geographic expansion is primarily driven by the unintentional, human mediated introduction beyond their native ranges. Despite the substantial public health implications and rising numbers of disease outbreaks, a global picture of the introduction trends and the resulting range expansions of mosquitoes is missing. Here, we present a comprehensive and up-to-date compilation and analysis of reported first records of human disease vector mosquitoes worldwide. We show that 45 mosquito species (~25% of those known to transmit human pathogens) have been introduced worldwide, with 28 species having established in at least one region. From the 1950’s onwards, the introduction of new species has increased sharply, with 12 species recorded for the first time outside their native range since 2000 alone. Initially, most introduced species were native to Africa, but over time, Asian species have become more dominant. North America, Australia and Europe remain the main recipients. Our results highlight the role of global trade and transportation in mosquito spread and emphasizes the need for international cooperation to control their spread and potential threat to public health. Globalization has accelerated the spread of mosquito species that transmit human diseases. This global analysis reveals that 45 disease-vector mosquito species have been introduced to non-native regions worldwide, mostly after 1950 with 12 new species recorded outside their native ranges since 2000.