Local extinction of the Asian tiger mosquito ( Aedes albopictus ) following rat eradication on Palmyra Atoll

A local extinction of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) has been documented following rat eradication on Palmyra Atoll, marking a potential first accidental secondary extinction of a mosquito species. The study, conducted by Lafferty et al., relied on anecdotal biting reports, collection records, and extensive trapping (black-light and scent traps) to track the mosquito's presence before and after rat removal. While Aedes albopictus was abundant prior to eradication, no captures or biting reports were recorded over two years post-eradication, contrasting with the persistent abundance of the southern house mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus). The researchers hypothesize that rats served as a critical blood meal source for Aedes, with humans and seabirds alone insufficient to sustain its population. This finding suggests that preferred host availability can limit mosquito populations, offering new insights into disease vector control strategies targeting introduced species like rats.

Lafferty, K. D., McLaughlin, J. P., Gruner, D. S., Bogar, T. A., Bui, A., Childress, J. N., Espinoza, M., Forbes, E. S., Johnston, C. A., Klope, M., Miller-ter Kuile, A., Lee, M., Plummer, K. A., Weber, D. A., Young, R. T., & Young, H. S. (2018). Local extinction of the Asian tiger mosquito ( Aedes albopictus ) following rat eradication on Palmyra Atoll. Biology Letters, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2017.0743