Larval surveillance is the central approach for monitoring dengue vector populations in Indonesia. However, traditional larval indices are ineffective for measuring mosquito population dynamics and predicting the dengue transmission risk. We conducted a 14-month ovitrap surveillance. Eggs and immature mosquitoes were collected on a weekly basis from an urban village of Bandung, namely Sekejati. Ovitrap-related indices, namely positive house index (PHI), ovitrap index (OI), and ovitrap density index (ODI), were generated and correlated with environmental variables, housing type (terraced or high-density housing), ovitrap placement location (indoor or outdoor; household or public place), and local dengue cases. Our results demonstrated that Aedes aegypti was significantly predominant compared with Aedes albopictus at each housing type and ovitrap placement location. Ovitrap placement locations and rainfall were the major factors contributing to variations in PHI, OI, and ODI, whereas the influences of housing type and temperature were subtle. Indoor site values were significantly positively correlated to outdoor sites’ values for both OI and ODI. OI and ODI values from households were best predicted with those from public places at 1- and 0-week lags, respectively. Weekly rainfall values at 4- and 3-week lags were the best predictors of OI and ODI for households and public places, respectively. Monthly mean PHI, OI, and ODI were significantly associated with local dengue cases. In conclusion, ovitrap may be an effective tool for monitoring the population dynamics of Aedes mosquitoes, predicting dengue outbreaks, and serving as an early indicator to initiate environmental clean-up. Ovitrap surveillance is easy for surveyors if they are tasked with a certain number of ovitraps at a designated area, unlike the existing larval surveillance methodology, which entails identifying potential breeding sites largely at the surveyors’ discretion. Ovitrap surveillance may reduce the influence of individual effort in larval surveillance that likely causes inconsistency in results.

Background: Implementing the sterile insect technique (SIT) in areas with high-density target mosquito populations throughout the year is challenging. This study evaluated the effectiveness of releasing radiation-sterilized male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which were subjected to pre-release control measures in a highly urbanized city. Methodology/Principal findings: A mark–release–recapture (MRR) trial was conducted to assess the performance of sterile male mosquitoes. The MRR results revealed that the life expectancy of irradiated mosquitoes was 1.2–8.8 days, and that their mean dispersal distance was 60.0–64.3 m. The estimated wild male population ranged from 1,475–2,297 male mosquitoes/ha. In the SIT trial, sterile male A. aegypti mosquitoes were released at a rate of 9,000 male mosquitoes/week/ha for 24 weeks. Pre-release control measures, including chemical fogging (Fludora Co-Max EW) and breeding site removal, were employed at the release site. A buffer zone was established by applying residual insecticide (K-Othrine PolyZone SC) and releasing sterile male mosquitoes. In the SIT trial, relative to control sites, the site with sterile male mosquitoes had considerably greater sterility in the field population (greater by 86%), resulting in reductions in the ovitrap density index, and number of wild female mosquitoes captured. In contrast, no significant reduction in ovitrap index was observed. However, despite the gradual recording of low values for egg hatching, ovitrap density index, and female capture, mosquito suppression was incomplete. The mosquito population rebounded shortly after the release of sterile male mosquitoes ended. Conclusions/Significance: This study underscores the critical role of integrated vector management when the SIT is implemented in highly urbanized areas. It also emphasizes the importance of combining vector control interventions to ensure they are tailored to the geographic context based on logistical feasibility, available local facilities, and local knowledge of the vector.

Background and Aim: Rhodamine-B (Rh-B) marking shows a great potential for use in mark-release-recapture (MRR) studies for rear-and-release mosquito control strategies, including the radiation-based sterile insect technique. However, its applicability and evaluation in body-stain-irradiated males of Aedes aegypti have received little attention. The present study evaluated the use of Rh-B to mark gamma-irradiated male A. aegypti. Materials and Methods: Male A. aegypti were irradiated at the pupal stage at a dose of 70 Gy. After emergence, males were fed 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, or 0.4% Rh-B in 10% glucose solution for 4 days. Groups of unirradiated males that received the same feeding treatments were used as control groups. We evaluated the persistence of Rh-B and the longevity of males after Rh-B feeding. Furthermore, the use of Rh-B in irradiated A. aegypti for MRR experiments was evaluated at an urban site. Results: No difference was observed in the Rh-B persistence among all concentrations at the 24-h postmarking period ranging from 91.25 ± 1.61% to 96.25 ± 1.61% and from 90.00 ± 2.28% to 93.13 ± 2.77% for the unirradiated and irradiated groups, respectively. Rh-B persistence significantly decreased over time, and persistence was significantly longer with increased concentrations in both the unirradiated and irradiated groups. Longevity was considerably decreased by Rh-B feeding and irradiation. However, no significant difference in longevity was found among males fed various concentrations of Rh-B. Through MRR experiments, irradiated-Rh-B marked males were mostly detected within a radius of 20 m and 40 m from the center-release point. The mean distance traveled of the released males from the three MRR events was calculated to be 42.6 m. Conclusion: This study confirms that Rh-B body marking through sugar feeding is applicable for irradiated male A. aegypti, with only a slight effect on longevity. Furthermore, considering the significant reduction in persistence over time, further study is needed to assess the impact of this reduction on the calculation of field biological parameters resulting from MRR experiments. Keywords: irradiated males, mark-release-recapture, rhodamine-B, sterile insect technique.

West Nile is a mosquito-borne disease transmitted by Culex spp. mosquitoes and is widely distributed throughout the Continental United States. The causative agent is the West Nile virus (WNV); Family Flaviviridae Genus Orthoflavivirus. However, Miami-Dade County, a subtropical region with abundant populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. nigripalpus, has not experienced sustained WNV transmission. This integrative review examines ecological, climatic, and surveillance determinants of WNV transmission in Miami-Dade County to understand why WNV cases remain low despite abundant vector populations. A theme-based PubMed search used Boolean combinations of terms related to WNV, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. nigripalpus, St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), avian hosts and migration, climate, urbanization, and Florida/Miami-Dade County. Typically, reported human WNV cases in Florida are concentrated in northern and central regions, whereas Miami-Dade County experiences intermittent activity. However, limited human cases should not be interpreted as evidence that local WNV circulation is absent. Rather, available evidence of WNV activity across mosquito, avian, and human surveillance streams does exist; however, actual burden may not be fully captured. Miami-Dade County, therefore, represents an ecological setting where abundant vectors do not necessarily translate into high WNV burden. As climate change and urbanization reshape avian and vector ecology, strengthening integrated entomological, epidemiological, and avian surveillance will be essential for anticipating and mitigating future WNV risk.