Stormwater drains and catch basins as sources for production of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus

• Published in: Acta tropica 2014-06, Vol.134, p.33-42
• Main Authors: Arana-Guardia, Roger, Baak-Baak, Carlos M., Loroño-Pino, María Alba, Machain-Williams, Carlos, Beaty, Barry J., Eisen, Lars, García-Rejón, Julián E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aedes - growth & development; Aedes aegypti; Animals; Arbovirus; Catch basin; Cities; Culex - growth & development; Culex quinquefasciatus; Drain; Drainage, Sanitary; Insect Vectors; Larva - growth & development; Mexico; Stormwater; Weather
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.01.011

•Stormwater drains and catch basins are important sources for production of mosquitoes in Mérida City.•Stormwater drains and catch basins in Mérida City contain standing water in both wet and dry months.•Stormwater drains and catch basins in Mérida City are particularly important development sites for Ae. aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus.•Stormwater drains and catch basins receive water from rainfall as well as by human action.•Mérida City is endemic for dengue. We present data showing that structures serving as drains and catch basins for stormwater are important sources for production of the mosquito arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus in Mérida City, México. We examined 1761 stormwater drains – located in 45 different neighborhoods spread across the city – over dry and wet seasons from March 2012 to March 2013. Of the examined stormwater drains, 262 (14.9%) held water at the time they were examined and 123 yielded mosquito immatures. In total, we collected 64,560 immatures representing nine species. The most commonly encountered species were Cx. quinquefasciatus (n=39,269) and Ae. aegypti (n=23,313). Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus were collected during all 11 months when we found water-filled stormwater drains, and both were found in stormwater drains located throughout Mérida City. We also present data for associations between structural characteristics of stormwater drains or water-related characteristics and the abundance of mosquito immatures. In conclusion, stormwater drains produce massive numbers of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus across Mérida City, both in the wet and dry seasons, and represent non-residential development sites that should be strongly considered for inclusion in the local mosquito surveillance and control program.