Global invasion patterns and dynamics of disease vector mosquitoes

Abstract

Mosquitoes are regarded as the most dangerous creatures on earth, spreading deadly pathogens through their bites. Human activities are driving range expansions of many mosquito species by unintentionally introducing them beyond their native ranges. Despite the often dire consequences for human health, a global picture of the introduction trends and the resulting range expansions of mosquitoes is missing. Here, we describe the global invasion patterns of mosquitoes that are vectors of human diseases and analyze the drivers shaping them. In addition, we provide the dataset compiled for these analyses which represent the most up-to-date standardized information on first records for this taxonomic group at a regional level. Our findings reveal that a total of 45 mosquito species have hitherto been introduced into regions outside their native range worldwide, representing 24% of those known to transmit human pathogens in the wild (i.e., outside experimental conditions), with 27 species successfully established. There has been a steep increase in introductions of emerging non-native mosquito species since the mid-20th century when 28 species (62% of all introduced species) were recorded for the first time. In just the last two decades, 12 new species have been identified. The geography of introductions largely mirrors global trade and transportation flows. Initially, most introduced species were native to Africa, but over time, Asian species have become more dominant. North America, Australia and Europe have consistently been the primary recipients. Our results provide a foundation for addressing the increasing threat of non-native vector mosquitoes globally, emphasizing the need for international cooperation and comprehensive control measures to mitigate their impact on public health.