Mosquito oviposition site selection: Global behavioral preferences of peridomestic mosquitoes revealed by citizen science

Mosquito-borne vector-borne diseases are a global health threat exacerbated by climatic and anthropogenic changes, and effective control relies on targeted source reduction, which demands high-resolution, global data on larval habitat preferences. This study used the GLOBE Observer: Mosquito Habitat Mapper (GO MHM) citizen science platform to analyze data on mosquito breeding sites across four major regions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and North America. Results indicated that, globally, mosquito oviposition site prevalence was in artificial, unlidded, dark-colored outdoor containers with minimal water volume (0–25% fill) for Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex species. Material use for mosquito breeding sites varied across regions: earthenware was predominant in Asia and Africa, whereas plastic was predominant in Latin America. These findings help in effective vector control strategies for community-driven surveillance in global health security.