Combined effects of constant temperature and radio frequency exposure on Aedes mosquito development

Mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, pose significant public health threats, particularly in tropical regions like Malaysia. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are primary vectors of these diseases, with their developmental stages being highly sensitive to environmental factors. While temperature is a well-known driver of mosquito biology, the potential influence of anthropogenic factors such as radio frequency (RF) exposure remains underexplored. This study investigates the combined effects of temperature and RF exposure on the developmental stages of these mosquito species to provide insights into their population dynamics and inform vector control strategies. A factorial experimental design was employed, incorporating four temperature conditions (20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C, and 35 °C) and three RF exposure levels (900 MHz, 18 GHz, and a control group with no RF exposure). The developmental durations for hatching, larval, pupation, and adult emergence stages were monitored daily under controlled laboratory conditions. Data were analyzed using a quadratic response surface model to evaluate the main effects and interactions between temperature and RF exposure. Temperature emerged as the dominant factor influencing developmental durations, with optimal conditions observed at 30-32 °C. RF exposure, particularly at 18 GHz, acted as a secondary modulating factor, accelerating developmental stages under certain temperature conditions. Ae. aegypti exhibited greater sensitivity to temperature changes compared to Ae. albopictus, which displayed higher adaptability and resilience to environmental variations. Interaction effects were most evident at intermediate temperatures (25-30 °C), where RF exposure synergistically reduced developmental durations. However, extreme RF exposure levels and suboptimal temperatures prolonged developmental periods. This study highlights the critical role of temperature in mosquito development while identifying RF exposure as a potential modulator under specific conditions. The findings underscore the importance of considering both environmental and anthropogenic factors in vector management strategies. Future research should explore the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions to refine predictive models and enhance vector control efforts in rapidly urbanizing regions.