Amsterdam - Present in Europe for over two decades and now firmly established in several temperate regions - including Italy's Trentino province, where peak activity occurs between July and September - Aedes koreicus (commonly known as the Korean mosquito) remains an invasive species whose ecological dynamics are far less understood than those of the more widespread tiger mosquito.
Insights from over forty Italian and European experts at a workshop organized by FEM, the MUSE Science Museum in Trento, the University of Camerino, and the University of Pavia have culminated in a recent scientific paper published in the international journal Acta Tropica. The study synthesizes current knowledge on the species and reviews existing literature. Although the mosquito has been documented in Europe since 2008 (and in Italy since 2011), experts agree that available data remains fragmented, making harmonized surveillance and communication strategies an urgent priority.
"This collaborative article demonstrates that synergy among research institutions is the key strategy for turning data exchange into concrete knowledge, which is essential for anticipating and managing the ecological, health, and environmental challenges linked to invasive species," explain researchers Giovanni Marini (Fondazione Edmund Mach) and Valeria Lencioni (MUSE).
Unlike the better-known tiger mosquito, the Korean mosquito tolerates low temperatures exceptionally well. This allows it to colonize mountainous and foothill environments where other species struggle, extending its active period from late spring deep into autumn. This overlap complicates surveillance efforts, as its eggs are nearly identical to those of the tiger mosquito, requiring rigorous identification methods. While laboratory experiments confirm the species can potentially transmit pathogens such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and feline/canine heartworm, researchers emphasize the need to better understand whether these risks translate into natural European field conditions.