From Entomology Today
November 9, 2021
The mosquito Aedes notoscriptus is no longer a stranger to California. The Australian native was first reported in Los Angeles County in 2014, its first appearance outside of Australia, New Zealand, and the southwest Pacific. Of course, invasive insect species aren’t unusual (in California and elsewhere), but this species was noted for its rapid spread and easy adaptation to urban areas.
By 2019, immature and adult Ae. notoscriptus mosquitoes had been collected from 44 cities in three California counties. Yet, the mosquito—sometimes known as the striped mosquito or the Australian backyard mosquito—remains relatively understudied. Knowing how the species adapts (and how quickly) will help provide clues to managing it. This knowledge is also important because Ae. notoscriptus seems well poised to rapidly spread globally. In a paper published in October in the Journal of Medical Entomology, entomologists from vector control districts in Los Angeles and San Diego counties and the California Department of Public Health present findings on the spread and adaptations of the mosquito.