Surveillance and genetic data support the introduction and establishment of Aedes albopictus in Iowa, USA

Aedes albopictus is a competent vector of several arboviruses that has spread throughout the United States over the last three decades. With the emergence of Zika virus in the Americas in 2015-2016 and an increased need to understand the current distributions of Ae. albopictus in the US, we initiated surveillance efforts to determine the abundance of invasive Aedes species in Iowa. Here, we describe surveillance efforts from 2016 to 2020 in which we detect stable and persistent populations of Aedes albopictus in three Iowa counties. Based on temporal patterns in abundance and genetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes between years, our data support that Ae. albopictus are overwintering and have likely become established in the state. The localization of Ae. albopictus predominantly in areas of urbanization, and noticeable absence in rural areas, suggests that these ecological factors may contribute to overwintering success. Together, these data document the establishment of Ae. albopictus in Iowa and their expansion into the Upper Midwest, where freezing winter temperatures were previously believed to limit their spread. With impending climate change, our study provides evidence for the further expansion of Ae. albopictus into temperate regions of the United States resulting in increased risks for vector-borne disease transmission.

Automated summary

This study reports the surveillance efforts on the invasive mosquito species Aedes albopictus in Iowa, United States, and identifies stable and persistent populations of the species in three counties. The data suggests that Ae. albopictus has likely become established in the state, with overwintering success potentially influenced by ecological factors such as urbanization. The study provides evidence for the further expansion of Ae. albopictus into temperate regions of the United States, increasing the risks of vector-borne disease transmission.