Temperature and competition: drivers in the ecological dynamics of Aedes mosquitoes and dengue spread

Temperature significantly influences competitive interactions and dengue transmission dynamics between Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Temperature-dependent conditions enhance Ae. albopictus invasion and promote coexistence, while Ae. aegypti drives higher infection peaks under favorable thermal conditions. Increased Ae. albopictus competition lowers transmission, particularly in temperature-dependent scenarios; however, situations where both vectors exhibit similar abundances represent the most concerning context. These findings underscore the importance of integrating temperature effects and interspecific competition into vector control strategies in regions such as Colombia, where both species coexist, to effectively mitigate dengue transmission under varying climatic conditions.