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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #412304
Research Project: Integrated Pest Management of Mosquitoes and Biting Flies

Location: Mosquito and Fly Research

Title: A critical review of insecticide resistance in US Aedes albopictus: Resistance status, underlying mechanisms, and directions for future research

Author
item Estep Iii, Alden
item Sanscrainte, Neil

Submitted to: Journal of the Mosquito Control Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/26/2024
Publication Date: 6/30/2024
Citation: Estep III, A.S., Sanscrainte, N.D. 2024. A critical review of insecticide resistance in US Aedes albopictus: Resistance status, underlying mechanisms, and directions for future research. Journal of the Mosquito Control Association. 71(1):31-40. https://doi.org/10.32473/jfmca.71.1.135291.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32473/jfmca.71.1.135291

Interpretive Summary: Aedes albopictus is a potential disease vector that is present and expanding in distribution in the United States. It is an increasingly important target of vector control operations. Studies indicate that this species can develop insecticide resistance (IR) but the status of US populations is unclear. This review article examines the existing literature to survey what we currently know about IR in US populations, reviews the mechanisms that may explain the observed IR, and makes suggestions about tools and research needed to better understand IR in this species.

Technical Abstract: Aedes albopictus is a primary or secondary disease vector in Asia that invaded the United States around 1980. It is now present in more than half of US states and continues to expand in range. The willingness to bite in the daytime and the ability to colonize makes this species a target of control operations both to prevent nuisance biting and for public health reasons. As with other species, effective long-term control requires an integrated management strategy and information about efficacy of operational interventions. Studies from Asia, where this species is a primary vector, show that insecticide resistance is a developing concern that can compromise effective control. In this review, we summarize the status of insecticide resistance in US populations of Ae. albopictus, examine the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying resistance, and offer suggestions for future research directions.