Mosquito Strains from India and Brazil Exhibit Distinct Thermal Tolerances, Impacting Disease Risk Prediction
A recent study published in *Parasites & Vectors* has revealed significant differences in the thermal tolerance of *Aedes aegypti* mosquito populations from subtropical New Delhi, India, and tropical Salvador, Brazil. Researchers found that while both strains performed optimally near 28 °C, the New Delhi strain showed enhanced resilience to cooler conditions (20 °C), maintaining higher survival rates and longer lifespans. Conversely, the Salvador strain demonstrated greater resilience and faster development at elevated temperatures (32 °C), consistent with its consistently warm tropical origin. This laboratory-based investigation exposed mosquito colonies to controlled temperatures (20 °C, 28 °C, 32 °C, and cycling ranges) to measure key life-table parameters such as egg hatching, larval development, pupation success, adult emergence, lifespan, and digestive efficiency. The findings indicate that local climatic conditions have shaped the biological traits of these vector species, influencing their survival...