The Mosquito Fauna of K’Gari (Fraser Island), Australia, the World’s Largest Sand Island

A recent study on K'gari (Fraser Island), the world's largest sand island and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reveals a diverse mosquito fauna dominated by freshwater-associated species. The research identified 31 mosquito species across 10 genera, including 10 previously unrecorded on the island, such as Culex gelidus, a known vector for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Using CO2-baited light traps at 28 sites during three surveys in 2024 and 2025, the study found that Culex annulirostris, a major arbovirus vector in Australia, was the most prevalent species, comprising 22% of the total 3,356 mosquitoes collected. Surprisingly, brackish habitat species like Aedes vigilax and Culex sitiens made up less than 5% of the collection, while freshwater species such as Mansonia uniformis and Coquillettidia spp., along with Culiseta arenivaga—a species endemic to K'gari—were abundant. This study highlights the medical importance of K'gari's mosquito fauna and its unique ecological composition.

Wisdom, J., Belby, M., van den Hurk, A. F., & Jansen, C. C. (2026). THE MOSQUITO FAUNA OF K’GARI (FRASER ISLAND), AUSTRALIA, THE WORLD’S LARGEST SAND ISLAND. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 42(2), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.2987/26-7279