Effects of cumulative temperature and precipitation patterns on mosquito abundance in urban Seoul, South Korea

Mosquitoes pose serious public health risks, especially in densely populated cities. Although mosquito populations are closely linked to meteorological factors, the cumulative effects of these factors remain understudied from an ecological perspective. This study investigates mosquito population patterns in relation to cumulative meteorological factors, analyzing daily data collected nightly (18:00-07:00) from May to October in 2012, 2013, and 2015 at 21 monitoring sites across different urban habitats in Seoul, South Korea. Results revealed that cumulative temperature and precipitation significantly influence mosquito populations, with marked differences observed between waterside and non-waterside habitats. Mosquito populations in waterside areas were more sensitive to temperature fluctuations and the number of days with precipitation compared with those in non-waterside areas. Although higher minimum temperatures increased mosquito abundance, extreme variations led to declines. Cumulative precipitation generally had a negative impact on mosquito populations, whereas low precipitation showed a positive correlation. Notably, the number of days with precipitation was more influential than cumulative precipitation. These findings emphasize the importance of habitat types and cumulative meteorological factors in shaping urban mosquito populations, offering insights for future research and control measures.