The recent passive introduction at Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Italy, as it happened in other areas at the world is mainly related to the international trade of used tyres which provide a suitable habitat for the eggs. Moreover the selection at populations with embryonic diapause mechanism has led to the rapid spread of the species in wide temperate areas where it is able to overwinter.
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Following complaints from the local population, an investigation was initiated in 1993 to establish the cause of the problem, Aedes albopictus was found to be responsible it was detected from the middle of May to the middle of October. This species had probably been present since 1988 when extremely noxious mosquitoes were noticed near an importer premises of used tires. It is now well established in the town under investigation where it develops in various urban and suburban water containers over an area of about 800 hectares. Road manholes constitute the main habitat for larval development. The mosquito population, was monitored by CDC light trap baited with dry ice, it consisted of Culex pipiens molestus (89.8%) Ae, albopictus (9.9%) as well as few specimens of Ae. geniculatus, Anopheles maculipennis s l., Cx. ortensis and Culiseta annulata.
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