Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) population density and species composition in urban areas of Anguilla: A baseline study for February 2024

An understanding of mosquito ecology is necessary for effective vector control and evaluation of disease risk. Like much of the Caribbean region, Anguilla faces a threat of arboviral disease outbreaks, which is being exacerbated by the effects of climate change. However, there is a lack of contemporary knowledge on the diversity and relative abundance of key adult mosquito vector populations in Anguilla. This snap-shot survey, conducted in February 2024, aimed to provide the first island-wide assessment of urban adult mosquito population densities in over fifty years. Biogents® (BG) Sentinel traps baited with BG-Lure were utilised across twenty-five sample sites simultaneously for thirteen nights, collecting a total of 9,857 adult mosquitoes over 266 cumulative trap nights. Three mosquito species were represented in this survey; Culex quinquefasciatus was the most abundant species, comprising almost three-quarters of all captured mosquitoes, whilst Aedes aegypti formed the remainder, and just three Culex bahamensis were caught. In most locations, Cx. quinquefasciatus was predominant, however, at an open landfill site Ae. aegypti was found to be highly abundant and accounted for the majority of captured mosquitoes. This study provides a baseline assessment and structure for continued mosquito vector surveillance in Anguilla, supporting improved control efforts and evaluation of mosquito-borne disease risk.