Temperature is an important determinant affecting the capacity of disease vectors like mosquitoes (Culicidae) to transmit disease agents. Although the impact of temperature on vector-borne disease dynamics has been studied intensively, the actual temperature encountered by the vector in a heterogeneous landscape is rarely taken into account. If disease vectors have temperature preferences and therefore select specific microhabitats, this would substantially influence key life history traits that determine transmission intensity. The thermal preferences of subtropical Aedes aegypti and temperate Ae. japonicus mosquitoes were investigated in a temperature gradient set-up consisting of a Plexiglas box on top of an aluminium plate on two thermal regulators. Blood-fed (one day after feeding) and unfed (non-blood-fed) mosquitoes were released in small (15-20 °C, 20-25 °C, 25-30 °C) and large (15-30 °C, 30-45 °C) temperature gradients to assess their thermal preferences after 15 min. Additionally, the effect of humidity was investigated in a two-choice chamber setup. Both mosquito species avoided higher temperatures, pronouncedly dangerously high temperatures in the 30-45 °C gradient. At lower temperatures, blood-fed mosquitoes preferred the cooler sides of the 20-25 °C and 25-30 °C gradient, which were all below their rearing temperature. In the lowest gradient of 15-20 °C, no preferences were found. The thermal preference of unfed mosquitoes was similar to that of the blood-fed mosquitoes. No humidity preference or effect of humidity on temperature preferences was observed within the tested range (40-90%). The set-up allows for assessing the thermal preference of mosquitoes under controlled conditions. The observed preference of mosquitoes for cooler temperatures would increase their longevity and slow down pathogen development. If similar microhabitat selection is observed in the field, vector borne disease models should be adjusted accordingly.

中文翻译：

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亚热带埃及伊蚊和温带埃及伊蚊的热偏好。日本蚊子

温度是影响蚊子（蚊科）等疾病媒介传播疾病病原体能力的重要决定因素。尽管已经深入研究了温度对媒介传播疾病动态的影响，但很少考虑媒介在异质景观中遇到的实际温度。如果疾病媒介具有温度偏好并因此选择特定的微生境，这将显着影响决定传播强度的关键生活史特征。亚热带埃及伊蚊和温带埃及伊蚊的热偏好。japonicus 蚊子在温度梯度设置中进行了研究，该设置由两个热调节器上的铝板顶部的有机玻璃盒组成。喂血（喂食后一天）和未喂食（非喂血）蚊子以小型（15-20°C、20-25°C、25-30°C）和大型（15-30°C）释放, 30-45 °C) 温度梯度，以在 15 分钟后评估它们的热偏好。此外，在两个选择室设置中研究了湿度的影响。两种蚊子都避免了更高的温度，在 30-45 °C 梯度中明显危险的高温。在较低温度下，吸血蚊子更喜欢 20-25°C 和 25-30°C 梯度的较冷一侧，这些温度都低于它们的饲养温度。在 15-20 °C 的最低梯度中，没有发现偏好。未喂食蚊子的热偏好与吸血蚊子相似。在测试范围 (40-90%) 内没有观察到湿度偏好或湿度对温度偏好的影响。该设置允许评估蚊子在受控条件下的热偏好。观察到的蚊子对较低温度的偏好会增加它们的寿命并减缓病原体的发育。如果在现场观察到类似的微生境选择，则应相应调整媒介传播疾病模型。