Researchers from the University of Florida are delving into how changes in lizard populations might impact the spread of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.
The brown anole, a nonnative lizard prevalent in Florida, appears to be in decline, potentially due to competition from the Peters’s rock agama. This aggressive invader is reducing the number of brown anoles available, which could affect mosquito feeding patterns.
While the introduction of Peters’s rock agama may seem like a minor concern compared to other invasive species, Nathan Burkett-Cadena, the lead investigator, suggests that this shift could have significant public health implications.
Burkett-Cadena posits that the brown anoles might have been playing an inadvertent role in controlling mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus. “When mosquitoes bite lizards, they aren’t biting birds or humans, which could lead to a decrease in cases of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, as birds are primary hosts for these viruses,” he explained.
The Peters’s rock agama, on the other hand, does not attract mosquitoes because they hide in crevices that mosquitoes avoid. This behavior raises concerns about how the shift in lizard populations might influence the prevalence of diseases such as West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, and Eastern equine encephalitis.
Florida is increasingly worried about mosquito-borne illnesses, with recent reports including a case of West Nile virus in a St. Johns County animal.
Since its arrival in Florida, the Peters’s rock agama has spread to at least 20 counties, including Duval. “Florida’s warm climate, major ports, a robust reptile trade, and severe storms that aid reptile escapes make it a hotspot for biological invasions,” noted co-principal investigator Melissa Miller.
Currently, there are at least 54 species of nonnative reptiles established and breeding across Florida. The ongoing study aims to assess how these invasive lizards impact mosquito feeding behavior and the subsequent spread of diseases within the state.