The Spread of Aedes albopictus in Florida

Before 1985, the distribution of the container-inhabiting mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse) was confined to Asia and islands in the Pacific Ocean. Yet, in recent years the range of this mosquito has greatly expanded to include populations in North and South America, Europe, and Africa. Well-established populations of A. albopictus in the continental United States were first detected in Texas in 1985. A year later this mosquito was found for the first time in Florida, and since then it has spread to 64 of the state's 67 counties. Currently, A. albopictus populations are very common throughout north Florida, widely but sparsely distributed in the central part of the state, and rare in south Florida. This article describes some of the factors that have contributed to the spread of A. albopictus in Florida.