Local extinction of the Asian tiger mosquito ( <i>Aedes albopictus</i> ) following rat eradication on Palmyra Atoll

The Asian tiger mosquito, <i>Aedes albopictus,</i> appears to have been extirpated from Palmyra Atoll following rat eradication. Anecdotal biting reports, collection records, and regular captures in black-light traps showed the species was present before rat eradication. Since then, there have been no biting reports and no captures over 2 years of extensive trapping (black-light and scent traps). By contrast, the southern house mosquito, <i>Culex quinquefasciatus,</i> was abundant before and after rat eradication. We hypothesize that mammals were a substantial and preferred blood meal for <i>Aedes</i>, whereas <i>Culex</i> feeds mostly on seabirds. Therefore, after rat eradication, humans and seabirds alone could not support positive population growth or maintenance of <i>Aedes</i> This seems to be the first documented accidental secondary extinction of a mosquito. Furthermore, it suggests that preferred host abundance can limit mosquito populations, opening new directions for controlling important disease vectors that depend on introduced species like rats.