Combined effects of constant temperature and radio frequency exposure on Aedes mosquito development

Scientific Reports · 2025 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 2564

Study snapshot

PublicationScientific Reports · 2025

Study typeother

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Category: Entomology, Environmental Health Tags: Aedes mosquitoes, radio frequency exposure, temperature effects, vector control, developmental biology, public health, environmental factors DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-09383-3 URL: nature.com Overview 🦟 Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya remain major public health concerns, especially in tropical regions such as Malaysia. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the primary vectors transmitting these diseases, and their growth and development are profoundly affected by environmental factors. 🌡️ While the role of temperature in mosquito biology has been well established, the possible influence of radio frequency (RF) exposure has received little attention. This study aimed to investigate how both temperature and RF exposure affect the developmental stages of Aedes mosquitoes, offering new insights for vector control strategies. Methods - Factorial experimental design with four temperature settings (20°C, 25°C, 30°C, 35°C) - Three radio frequency exposure levels: 900 MHz, 18 GHz, and a control group (no RF) - Monitored mosquito development from hatching through to adult emergence under controlled lab conditions. - Data analyzed using a quadratic response surface model to examine main and interaction effects. Findings - 🌡️ Temperature was the dominant factor influencing developmental durations, with optimal mosquito growth at 30–32°C. - 📶 RF exposure, particularly at 18 GHz, acted as a secondary modulator, sometimes accelerating development at certain temperatures. - Ae. aegypti showed higher sensitivity to temperature changes than Ae. albopictus, which was more adaptable and resilient. - 💡 Synergistic effects were observed at mid-range temperatures (25–30°C), with RF exposure further reducing developmental durations. - However, extreme RF levels or suboptimal temperatures resulted in prolonged development. Conclusion Temperature is the primary driver of mosquito developmental timing, but RF exposure is an important secondary factor that can modulate development under particular conditions. Ae. aegypti was found to be less resilient compared to Ae. albopictus, highlighting differences in species adaptability. The combination of RF exposure and temperature can influence mosquito development and therefore has potential implications for public health and vector control. The study emphasizes the need to examine both environmental and anthropogenic factors, such as RF, when devising management strategies, given RF exposure’s notable impact. Further research should investigate the molecular pathways involved and consider these factors in models predicting disease transmission.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeother

Effect directionmixed

PopulationAedes mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 900 MHz

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In controlled laboratory conditions, temperature was the dominant factor affecting developmental duration, with optimal growth reported at 30–32°C. RF exposure (900 MHz and particularly 18 GHz) was described as a secondary modulator that sometimes accelerated development at certain temperatures, with synergistic effects at mid-range temperatures (25–30°C), while extreme RF levels or suboptimal temperatures were associated with prolonged development.

Outcomes measured

Mosquito developmental duration from hatching to adult emergence
Temperature–RF interaction effects on development timing
Species differences in sensitivity/resilience (Ae. aegypti vs Ae. albopictus)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
RF exposure metrics (e.g., power density, SAR) not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
Exposure duration details not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
Laboratory conditions may limit generalizability to field settings (not explicitly discussed, but study described as controlled lab conditions)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Aedes mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Mosquito developmental duration from hatching to adult emergence",
    "Temperature–RF interaction effects on development timing",
    "Species differences in sensitivity/resilience (Ae. aegypti vs Ae. albopictus)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In controlled laboratory conditions, temperature was the dominant factor affecting developmental duration, with optimal growth reported at 30–32°C. RF exposure (900 MHz and particularly 18 GHz) was described as a secondary modulator that sometimes accelerated development at certain temperatures, with synergistic effects at mid-range temperatures (25–30°C), while extreme RF levels or suboptimal temperatures were associated with prolonged development.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
    "RF exposure metrics (e.g., power density, SAR) not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
    "Exposure duration details not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
    "Laboratory conditions may limit generalizability to field settings (not explicitly discussed, but study described as controlled lab conditions)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "Aedes aegypti",
    "Aedes albopictus",
    "radio frequency exposure",
    "900 MHz",
    "18 GHz",
    "temperature",
    "developmental duration",
    "vector control",
    "environmental factors",
    "interaction effects"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-09383-3
PubMed: Not supplied

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