Unravelling the activity rhythms of urban vector mosquitoes with smart-trap technology
Understanding mosquito activity in dense urban areas is essential to assess human exposure to nuisance and health risks. We analyzed real-time mosquito data from four smart traps operating between 2021 and 2024 in Barcelona (NE Spain), focusing on the fine-scale temporal dynamics of two major urban...
| Autores: | , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya) |
| Repositorio: | Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:recercat____::028712491a75004751940aac1ddfeb17 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10230/73274 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-38795-y |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Mosquits -- Ecologia -- Catalunya -- Barcelona Mosquits--Control Mosquit tigre -- Catalunya -- Barcelona Ritmes circadiaris |
| Sumario: | Understanding mosquito activity in dense urban areas is essential to assess human exposure to nuisance and health risks. We analyzed real-time mosquito data from four smart traps operating between 2021 and 2024 in Barcelona (NE Spain), focusing on the fine-scale temporal dynamics of two major urban vector species, Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens. Both species exhibited consistent bimodal diel activity patterns aligned with sunrise and sunset, with species-specific differences in peak intensity and timing as well as seasonal fluctuations. Using a random forest framework, we identified light-related cues as primary activators of mosquito host-seeking activity; and light cues, temperature and rainfall also acting as modulators of activity, roles varying by species and temporal scale. This activator-modulator perspective illustrates how intrinsic circadian rhythms interact with extrinsic environmental drivers to determine mosquito activity across temporal scales. Our findings highlight the ecological value of high-resolution monitoring and the potential of next-generation surveillance tools to support early warning systems and evidence-based vector control in the context of smart cities. |
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