Sugar feeding by Aedes albopictus in the Torres Strait, Australia.

<h4>Background</h4>The establishment of Aedes albopictus in the Torres Strait Islands in 2005 is a threat to dengue control in the islands and on mainland Australia. Attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) have been proposed as a control strategy for outdoor mosquitoes like Ae. albopictu...

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Main Authors: Boni F Sebayang, Tanya L Russell, Susannah Mosby, Richard Gela, Darcy L Roeger, Bram van de Straat, Kyran M Staunton, Thomas R Burkot
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-02-01
Series:PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012856
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author Boni F Sebayang
Tanya L Russell
Susannah Mosby
Richard Gela
Darcy L Roeger
Bram van de Straat
Kyran M Staunton
Thomas R Burkot
author_facet Boni F Sebayang
Tanya L Russell
Susannah Mosby
Richard Gela
Darcy L Roeger
Bram van de Straat
Kyran M Staunton
Thomas R Burkot
author_sort Boni F Sebayang
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>The establishment of Aedes albopictus in the Torres Strait Islands in 2005 is a threat to dengue control in the islands and on mainland Australia. Attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) have been proposed as a control strategy for outdoor mosquitoes like Ae. albopictus. The sugar feeding behaviours of Ae. albopictus was studied to ascertain the potential of ATSBs to mitigate the risk of Ae. albopictus invading mainland Australia from the Torres Strait Islands.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>Aedes albopictus was sampled by sweep net collections in village and bushland habitats across two islands both in the mornings and afternoons. Samples were analysed to determine adult abundance as well as fructose prevalence and content by cold-anthrone test. Sampling stations were characterised by vegetation surveys and included the prevalence of flowers and fruit, and canopy cover. Among the 6,186 captured Ae. albopictus, the prevalence of fructose was 31.6% ± 1.4 in males and 30.5% ± 1.2 in females, with fructose averaging 62.9 µg (± 1.4) in fructose-positive Ae. albopictus.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Mosquito sex and collection time were associated with the abundance of Ae. albopictus as well as fructose prevalence and content in Ae. albopictus. Male and female Ae. albopictus exhibited sugar abundance and prevalence comparable to studies where ATSBs were effective suggesting that ATSBs could potentially reduce Ae. albopictus populations in the Torres Strait Islands.
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spelling doaj-art-e93075cf6c9548028098552341fba0222025-08-20T02:16:18ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352025-02-01192e001285610.1371/journal.pntd.0012856Sugar feeding by Aedes albopictus in the Torres Strait, Australia.Boni F SebayangTanya L RussellSusannah MosbyRichard GelaDarcy L RoegerBram van de StraatKyran M StauntonThomas R Burkot<h4>Background</h4>The establishment of Aedes albopictus in the Torres Strait Islands in 2005 is a threat to dengue control in the islands and on mainland Australia. Attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) have been proposed as a control strategy for outdoor mosquitoes like Ae. albopictus. The sugar feeding behaviours of Ae. albopictus was studied to ascertain the potential of ATSBs to mitigate the risk of Ae. albopictus invading mainland Australia from the Torres Strait Islands.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>Aedes albopictus was sampled by sweep net collections in village and bushland habitats across two islands both in the mornings and afternoons. Samples were analysed to determine adult abundance as well as fructose prevalence and content by cold-anthrone test. Sampling stations were characterised by vegetation surveys and included the prevalence of flowers and fruit, and canopy cover. Among the 6,186 captured Ae. albopictus, the prevalence of fructose was 31.6% ± 1.4 in males and 30.5% ± 1.2 in females, with fructose averaging 62.9 µg (± 1.4) in fructose-positive Ae. albopictus.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Mosquito sex and collection time were associated with the abundance of Ae. albopictus as well as fructose prevalence and content in Ae. albopictus. Male and female Ae. albopictus exhibited sugar abundance and prevalence comparable to studies where ATSBs were effective suggesting that ATSBs could potentially reduce Ae. albopictus populations in the Torres Strait Islands.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012856
spellingShingle Boni F Sebayang
Tanya L Russell
Susannah Mosby
Richard Gela
Darcy L Roeger
Bram van de Straat
Kyran M Staunton
Thomas R Burkot
Sugar feeding by Aedes albopictus in the Torres Strait, Australia.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
title Sugar feeding by Aedes albopictus in the Torres Strait, Australia.
title_full Sugar feeding by Aedes albopictus in the Torres Strait, Australia.
title_fullStr Sugar feeding by Aedes albopictus in the Torres Strait, Australia.
title_full_unstemmed Sugar feeding by Aedes albopictus in the Torres Strait, Australia.
title_short Sugar feeding by Aedes albopictus in the Torres Strait, Australia.
title_sort sugar feeding by aedes albopictus in the torres strait australia
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012856
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