How urban vegetation influences dynamics of Aedes albopictus egg density: three years of surveillance in Montpellier (France)

Summary

This three-year surveillance study examined how urban vegetation influences Aedes albopictus mosquito egg density in Montpellier, France, using ovitraps and environmental monitoring. Landscape-scale vegetation structure, growing degree days, and lagged egg counts were identified as key predictors of egg density dynamics. Both parametric and non-parametric modelling approaches performed similarly in prediction accuracy, suggesting that vegetation-mediated effects on this arbovirus vector are measurable and potentially manageable through nature-based interventions.

Regional applicability

Findings from Montpellier may have some transferability to southern United Kingdom regions with warming climates, though Aedes albopictus establishment remains limited in the UK. The methodology for linking vegetation patterns to vector dynamics is applicable to UK urban ecology and public health surveillance, particularly as range expansion of invasive mosquito species is monitored.

Key measures

Weekly Aedes albopictus egg counts per trap, growing degree days, land cover metrics, vegetation class structure, lagged cumulated egg densities

Outcomes reported

The study monitored Aedes albopictus egg density dynamics over three years (2022–2024) using ovitraps in urban environments and analysed environmental predictors including meteorological variables and land cover metrics. Both parametric (GLMM) and non-parametric (Random Forest) models were fitted to predict weekly egg counts per trap.

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