Beyond water: a proof of concept for the use of airborne eDNA in mosquito surveillance of Aedes albopictus

Abstract The invasive Asian tiger mosquito ( Aedes albopictus ) poses significant health risks for society and nature. Its rapid spread in urban areas requires efficient and cost-effective surveillance. While primarily developed for water samples, eDNA-based mosquito surveillance shows potential in detecting Ae. albopictus through aerial eDNA. We prove that aerial eDNA from Ae. albopictus can be successfully detected under laboratory conditions. However, larger-scale field studies are essential to validate its effectiveness.