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Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Determining Temperature Preference of Mosquitoes and Other Ectotherms
Published on: September 28, 2022
Temperature and precipitation differently influence entomological indices based on larval or adult sampling
Angie Nataly Aire Laureano1, André de Souza Leandro2, Rafael Maciel-de-Freitas3,4
1Latin American Institute of Life and Natural Sciences, Federal University for Latin American Integration (UNILA), Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil.
Abstract:
Dengue is an arboviral disease widely distributed in the world, with high incidence in tropical and subtropical regions. The population dynamics of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae), the main vector of the virus, are strongly influenced by climatic variables that modulate the occurrence and intensity of infestations. This study evaluated the influence of temperature and precipitation on the presence of the vector, integrating entomological and meteorological data. Larval and adult indicators obtained through Rapid Assessment of Larva Index (LIRAa) and Adultrap traps were used, analysed by generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) and Akaike information criterion (AIC) in the municipality of Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. The results demonstrated a significant association between larval indices (House Infestation Index [HI] and Breteau Index [BI]) and the climatic variables, indicating that the increase in temperature and precipitation favours mosquito infestation. In contrast, the adult indices (Trap Positivity Index [TPI] and Adult Density Index [ADI]) did not show a statistically significant relationship, suggesting behavioural adjustments of the vector in face of environmental conditions. The HI model indicated temperature as the determining factor in the presence of immature stages. These findings reinforce the usefulness of entomological monitoring, highlighting its importance in integrated vector-control strategies that consider climatic seasonality, especially thermal variation.
