The spread of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in the islands of São Tome and Príncipe

<p>The mosquito <em>Aedes albopictus</em> (Diptera: Culicidae) is a vector species of the causal agents of Dengue, yellow fever, and Zika among other diseases pathogens. The species originated in Southeast Asia and has spread widely and rapidly in the last century. The species has been reported in localities from the Gulf of Guinea since the early 2000s, but systematic sampling has been scant. We sampled <em>Ae. albopictus</em> twice, in 2013 and 2023 across the altitudinal gradient in São Tomé and found that the species was present in all sampled years at altitudes up to 680 meters. We also found some evidence of increases in proportional representation compared to <em>Ae. aegypti</em> over time. We report the presence of the species in Príncipe for the first time, suggesting that the range of <em>Ae. albopictus</em> is larger than previously thought. Finally, we use bioclimatic niche modeling to infer the potential range of <em>Ae. albopictus</em> and infer that the species has the potential to spread across a large portion of São Tomé and Príncipe. Our results suggest that <em>Ae. albopictus</em> has established itself as a resident species of the islands of the Gulf of Guinea and should be incorporated into the list of potential vectors that need to be surveyed and controlled.</p>