Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus populations in Miami-Dade County, Florida

Abstract

Millions of United States residents live where arbovirus vectors like Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus are abundant, and the risk of local outbreaks is amplified by viruses introduced via infected travelers. This threat is well-established: West Nile virus is already endemic in most of the country, and locally acquired dengue outbreaks are occurring with an increasing frequency. Therefore, identifying temporal trends in mosquito abundance and areas conducive to their proliferation is essential for public health preparedness and response planning. This study aims to characterize the spatiotemporal dynamics of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus populations in Miami-Dade County, Florida. We analyzed eight years (2017-2024) of mosquito surveillance data from 308 mosquito traps operating across the county. We characterized the spatiotemporal distribution of female Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus and identified persistent areas of high mosquito abundance (hotspots) using local spatial analysis. A total of 399,418 Ae. aegypti and 1,250,879 Cx. quinquefasciatus were collected. The two species showed distinct and opposing seasonal patterns: Ae. aegypti abundance peaked during the summer wet season, whereas Cx. quinquefasciatus peaked in the winter dry season. Our analysis identified spatially consistent hotspots for both species, with some traps classified as hotspots in over half the years studied. The consistent seasonality of the two species and detection of hotspot areas across years provides operational value for long-term monitoring, evaluation of control interventions, and targeted resource allocation. As arboviruses continue to pose a public health risk in urban environments such as Miami-Dade County, the ability to anticipate and respond to vector population fluctuations is instrumental for effective prevention and control.