Quantitative Meta-Analytic Framework for Aedes Habitat Heterogeneity

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are invasive mosquitoes and the primary vectors of dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya. Their ecological traits, particularly larval habitats and adult resting sites, are critical for designing effective strategies to reduce mosquito abundance and disease transmission. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines to identify studies published between January 1998 and December 2024 in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. We implemented a random-effects model to estimate the relative abundance of adult female Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus across indoor and outdoor environments, adjusted for variability across studies. Associations between larval sites, sample types, mosquito capture methods, season, and relative mosquito abundance were evaluated using meta-regression analysis. Of 9,270 publications, 38 studies met the inclusion criteria, representing 18 countries across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Combined data showed that 15% of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were collected indoors and 85% outdoors. In studies sampling both settings, 49.43% (95% CI: 37.34 to 61.57) of Ae. aegypti were collected indoors and 56.54% (95% CI: 43.79 to 68.87) outdoors, whereas 39.78% (95% CI: 18.81 to 62.94) of Ae. albopictus were collected indoors and 62.02% (95% CI: 47.86 to 75.21) outdoors. Subgroup analysis showed that mosquito abundance varied according to larval site, mosquito life stage, season, and sampling method. Significant associations between mosquito abundance and larval sites, sample types, mosquito capture methods, and season were identified, although these associations differed by species, sampling method, and collection setting. Overall, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were more abundant outdoors, whereas Ae. aegypti showed greater indoor abundance than Ae. albopictus. Applying these findings can strengthen arbovirus surveillance and vector control through targeted monitoring of Aedes populations and ecological preferences.