Study
The global distribution of the arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus
Kraemer, Moritz U. G.; Sinka, Marianne E.; Duda, Kirsten A.; Mylne, Adrian Q. N.; Shearer, Freya M.; Barker, Christopher M.
eLife, 2015
Assembles a global database of occurrence records for both species and models environmental suitability from climatic and human-population covariates, producing maps of predicted suitability distinct from confirmed presence.
- Studied in
- Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus
- Sample size
- compiled global occurrence records with environmental covariates
The two species have distinct global distributions and distinct predicted suitability. Aedes aegypti is largely confined to tropical and subtropical regions, while Aedes albopictus tolerates cooler conditions and has spread considerably further into temperate zones, including parts of Europe.
What it means
The authors' reading, and ours. Where they differ, that difference is the point.
How the authors put it
Suitability maps identify where these species could persist, and should be read alongside, not as, records of where they are.
How NatureHQ reads it
The record that separates two species people merge into "tropical mosquitoes". They are not interchangeable: albopictus is the one that tolerates cool temperate conditions and has established widely in Europe, and aegypti is substantially more restricted by cold. A British detection of one says very little about the other. The paper is also useful for a habit of mind — it produces suitability, which is a statement about conditions, and takes care not to present it as occupancy.
- A model: predicted suitability is not observed presence, and occurrence records are unevenly collected.
- Published in 2015; distributions of both species have continued to change since.
What this study is used for on NatureHQ
One study can inform several subjects. Here is everywhere this one is cited.
Invasive mosquitoes and range shift
Aedes aegypti and the Asian tiger mosquito are different species with different limits. The tiger mosquito tolerates cool temperate conditions and has established widely in Europe; aegypti is far more restricted by cold.
Invasive mosquitoes and range shift
A place can be climatically suitable for a species and hold none of it, because nothing arrived or arrivals did not persist. Suitability describes conditions; occupancy is a separate question.
Published by: eLife Sciences PublicationsPublished in eLife under CC BY 4.0.
Checked against Crossref on 2026-09-28, and they agree on the title, the authors and the year.
NatureHQ summarises research in its own words and does not reproduce published text. Reviewed 2026-09-04.