title: Spatial analysis of wing geometry in dengue vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae), populations in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aedes aegypti (L.) is an efficient vector for arboviral diseases such as dengue. The wings of Ae. aegypti has been extensively studied in order to investigate population heterogeneity and structure by utilizing a landmark based geometric morphometrics (GMs) approach. The aim of this study was to examine and assess the wing geometry of Ae. aegypti in Metropolitan Manila.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 312 Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were collected from 98 sampling points using a mosquito light-trap from May 2014 to January 2015. A complete coverage of the wing was achieved by removing wing scales with chemical and physical treatment, leading to identification of 26 landmarks. Geometric morphometric analyses were employed and the spatial distance pattern was estimated using isolation by distance (IBD) and spatial autocorrelation (SA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the GM analyses revealed population heterogeneity and structuring in Ae. aegypti populations for both sexes using principal component and canonical variate analyses respectively. Moreover, IBD and SA only detected significant spatial structure in male Ae. aegypti populations while female population structures were homogeneous throughout the geographical area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The newly modified wing preparation procedure was able to capture a complete coverage of the wings of Ae. aegypti, thus providing a stronger separation power for very close populations in an urban area. It is also noteworthy that the results of IBD and SA supported the findings of GM in the population structuring of male and female Ae. aegypti. The outcome of the study increases our understanding of the vector, which would be useful in developing effective control strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan; Biology Department; Biological Control Research Unit, Center for Natural Science and Environmental Research, De La Salle University, Taft Ave Manila, Philippines, .
authors.forename: Thaddeus M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Carvajal
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan; Graduate School, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Quezon City, Philippines, .
authors.forename: Lara Fides T
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, De La Salle University, Taft Ave Manila, Philippines; Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Hannam University, Daejeon, South Korea, .
authors.forename: Howell T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, De La Salle University, Taft Ave Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Menard G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cuenca
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, De La Salle University, Taft Ave Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Bianca Marie C
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Orantia
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, De La Salle University, Taft Ave Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Camille R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan; Graduate School, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Quezon City, Philippines, .
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Viacrusis
authors.affiliation: Biology Department; Biological Control Research Unit, Center for Natural Science and Environmental Research, De La Salle University, Taft Ave Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Divina M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Amalin
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification*; D000818:Animals; D002947:Cities; D004772:Entomology / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D000072138:Mosquito Vectors; D010679:Philippines; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*