[Ecology of Aedes aegypti in Africa and Asia]

Aedes aegypti is originated from Africa and expanded around the tropical World with a pantropical distribution in 1930. Because of mosquito control, this extension decreased, but is still very important and threatening because of disease transmission. Eggs of Ae. aegypti can survive unfavorable conditions. Larvae and pupae of Ae. aegypti breed into natural or artificial containers, the last being the most important. Artificial breeding-sites are mostly water storage containers and discarded containers. The water storage containers, called "canaris" in West Africa, can assume different shape according to the human populations in which they are found. In Asia, water is stored everywhere, including in large towns. The adult females of Ae. aegypti are mostly diurnal and indoor feeders. Adult densities are variable and can reach huge numbers. Active dispersion of females is weak, one female usually visit one or two houses in its life. At the opposite, passive dispersion is extreme. The mean life duration of a female is about 2 to 3 weeks, thus when infected with dengue viruses, because of the duration of the extrinsic cycle of the viruses, a female has a low probability to survive enough to transmit the disease. Nevertheless, the system works quite well. Although Ae. aegypti is a "domestic" mosquito, its ecology remains largely misunderstood.