First record of the Asian bush mosquito, Aedes japonicus japonicus, in Italy: invasion from an established Austrian population.

Bernhard Seidel,Hartwig P Huemer,Franz Allerberger,Gioia Capelli,Fabrizio Montarsi,Alexander Indra,Norbert Nowotny

doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1566-6

Abstract

BackgroundIn 2011 we identified the Asian bush mosquito, Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald, 1901) (Diptera: Culicidae) for the first time in northern Slovenia and in the bordering Austrian federal state of Styria. Between May and July 2012 the distribution area of Ae. j. japonicus was already found to be extended westwards into Carinthia and eastwards towards Burgenland and bordering Hungary. In August 2012 the species was first detected in a western province of Hungary. In subsequent years, follow-up field studies demonstrated an active spread westwards throughout Carinthia, reaching the border to northern Italy.FindingsIn July 2015 several aquatic-stage specimens of the species were discovered at three different sites in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, north-eastern Italy. In September 2015, co-occurrence of Ae. j. japonicus and Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1895) was observed in the same sample in that region.ConclusionsAe. j. japonicus actively extended its geographic range from an established population in Carinthia (Austria) southwards to northern Italy by crossing Alpine ranges. Since Ae. albopictus and Aedes koreicus (Edwards, 1917) are already well established in northern Italy, it will be pivotal to monitor the consequences of a third invasive mosquito species trying to populate the same geographic region.

Highlights

In 2011 we identified the Asian bush mosquito, Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald, 1901) (Diptera: Culicidae) for the first time in northern Slovenia and in the bordering Austrian federal state of Styria
Ae. j. japonicus actively extended its geographic range from an established population in Carinthia (Austria) southwards to northern Italy by crossing Alpine ranges
Since Ae. albopictus and Aedes koreicus (Edwards, 1917) are already well established in northern Italy, it will be pivotal to monitor the consequences of a third invasive mosquito species trying to populate the same geographic region

Summary

Conclusions

Ae. j. japonicus extended its geographic range from an established population in Carinthia (Austria) southwards to northern Italy by crossing Alpine ranges. Japonicus extended its geographic range from an established population in Carinthia (Austria) southwards to northern Italy by crossing Alpine ranges. It will be highly interesting to observe how three invasive mosquito species with different ecological needs – Ae. j. Japonicus, Ae. albopictus and Ae. koreicus – co-exist in northern Italy in the future. From a Public Health perspective, the introduction of a new mosquito species competent of transmitting pathogens to animals and humans [2] may be an additional challenge for the health system. Authors’ contributions BS mainly designed the study, performed the field work, determined the mosquito samples and drafted the manuscript together with NN, FM, HPH, AI, GC and FA. All authors read the final version of the manuscript and approved its submission

Background

Findings