Why are anopheline mosquitoes not present in the Seychelles?

Anopheline mosquitoes, known vectors of malaria, are absent from the Seychelles archipelago despite its tropical climate, with the exception of Aldabra Atoll where they were introduced and later eliminated. A 2008 field survey across 17 granitic islands and 10 coralline atolls, including Mahé, Praslin, and Aldabra, found no evidence of larval or adult anophelines, confirming their absence in the Seychelles. The study attributes this to the remoteness and wind patterns protecting granitic islands, while the lack of permanent freshwater on southwestern atolls, combined with a long dry season, prevents mosquito breeding. Additionally, the absence of native land mammals in the Seychelles, similar to other regions like Antarctica or New Caledonia, suggests an obligatory relationship between anophelines and terrestrial mammals for blood-feeding.

Robert, V., Rocamora, G., Julienne, S., & Goodman, S. M. (2011). Why are anopheline mosquitoes not present in the Seychelles? Malaria Journal, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-10-31