Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) (Diptera: Culicidae): new records for Colombia

Aedes albopictus is one of the invasive species with the greatest potential for geographic dispersal. It is native to Asia but given its epidemiological importance in the transmission of arboviruses, it is essential to determine its distribution range, and one way to do this is through entomological surveillance, such as that carried out in the areas of influence of the EPM hydroelectric power stations in the department of Antioquia (Colombia), which was conceived as a strategy for early vector detection. The present study was conducted with the aim of tracking the presence of Ae. albopictus in municipalities of influence of the Porce II and Porce III hydroelectric, determining the most frequent breeding habitats and updating the distribution in Colombia. The study included two approaches: 1. Sampling of adults (peridomiciliary and extradomiciliary) and larvae (natural and artificial breeding sites) and 2. Review bibliography to update the species distribution in the country. A total of 107 specimens, 33 adults (seven males and 26 females) and 74 larvae were collected, with tires being the most important breeding habitat. The presence of Ae. albopictus is recorded for the first time from municipalities of Amalfi, Anori, Gomez Plata, Guadalupe and Taraza in Antioquia, and the presence is updated for 339 municipalities in 23 departments in Colombia. These results provide information on the presence of Ae. albopictus in hydroelectric stations, allowing health authorities to design timely and appropriate strategies for the surveillance, prevention, and control of arbovirosis in the country.