Visitors Without Passports: A Synthesis of Invasion Routes and Phylogeographic Patterns in the Asian Tiger Mosquito...

Aedes albopictus, a vector of arboviruses of medical and veterinary importance, has undergone a remarkable global expansion over the past five decades. This worldwide study analyzes the phylogeography, invasion routes, and demographic history of this mosquito species, tracing its spread from its native range in Asia to Oceania, Europe, America, and Africa. To this end, genetic datasets with distribution patterns aligned with the species' global spread were identified and extracted from publicly available databases. Phylogeographic analyses were conducted at a global level, invasion scenarios were tested, and the demographic history of populations involved in the spread was reconstructed. The mitochondrial genes COI (n = 3896), ND5 (n = 597), and the complete mitogenome (n = 79) were analyzed, revealing higher genetic diversity within the native range and genetic connectivity across all invaded regions, including the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia. All genetic markers indicate that the invasion dynamics followed a panmictic population structure, characterized by random mating and high gene flow among populations. Demographic analyses confirm Asia as the ancestral source population and identify multiple introduction events into Europe, the Americas, and Africa. This invasion pattern, combined with the evidence of panmixia, suggests that anthropogenic factors-particularly global trade-play a pivotal role in shaping the genetic connectivity and dispersal of A. albopictus, underscoring the influence of increasing global commerce on the spread of medically and veterinary-relevant species.