Susceptibility Status of a Recently Introduced Population of Aedes albopictus to Insecticides Used by the Vector Control Program in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

In recent years, Aedes albopictus has become the most important invasive mosquito species worldwide. In 2018, Ae. albopictus was found in a suburban area of Merida, one of the cities with the highest number of arbovirus cases in Mexico in the last 10 years. As Ae. albopictus continues its range expansion, there is a need to monitor its susceptibility to existing insecticide classes, since countries like Mexico currently do not consider Ae. albopictus in its insecticide management programs. In order to determine its susceptibility to the insecticides usually applied by the vector control program in Mexico, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention bottle bioassays were performed on individuals from established population of Ae. albopictus from Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Results suggested that the population recently found in the suburban area of Merida is susceptible to permethrin, deltamethrin, chlorpyrifos, malathion, bendiocarb, and propoxur. Further studies of insecticide resistance using biochemical and molecular tools together with more knowledge of the biology and ecology of this species are necessary to generate specific and efficient control strategies in Mexico.