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Mosquito Surveillance I

Mosquito Surveillance I

Mosquito Surveillance I

12 - A Novel Approach to Mosquito Surveillance: Harnessing Spider Webs as an eDNA Sampling Tool

Tuesday, March 24, 2026
1:45 PM - 1:55 PM PDT
Location: B110
Abstract: Environmental DNA (eDNA) offers a non-invasive approach to species detection and is emerging as a tool for vector surveillance. Spider webs act as effective eDNA capture tools due to their bio-adhesive threads and widespread, high-density presence across a variety of ecosystems. Here, we explore the use of spider webs to map the distribution of the malaria vector, Anopheles coluzzii, on the tropical African islands of São Tomé and Príncipe. First, we determine the efficiency of webs in capturing mosquito eDNA under controlled laboratory conditions, testing three spider species with distinct web architectures. Orb-weavers, which produce aerial webs coated with viscous glue, yielded the highest rates of mosquito DNA recovery. Building on these results, we conducted extensive field sampling collecting approximately 200 webs from diverse habitats across São Tomé and Príncipe. Webs collected from villages with known An. coluzzii populations tested positive for mosquito DNA, while webs from the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, where the mosquito is absent based on conventional trapping, tested negative. Our findings demonstrate that spider webs offer a cost-effective, low-impact and scalable tool for detecting disease-spreading mosquitoes in remote environments, highlighting their potential for vector surveillance. This novel approach has potential to complement traditional surveillance methods and support vector control efforts in malaria-endemic regions.