Author: Dr. Rayan Das
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/Bijmrd/03120010
Abstract: As global urbanization accelerates, the creation of extensive subterranean infrastructures—including subway networks, sewer systems, and utility conduits—has inadvertently fostered a “vertical frontier” for disease vectors. This review synthesizes the current understanding of the evolutionary divergence and ecological success of subterranean vector populations, with a primary focus on the Culex pipiens complex. In these “urban caves,” distinct selective pressures such as stable microclimates, lack of diapause triggers, and restricted mating spaces have driven the emergence of the molestus biotype. This study examines the molecular mechanisms of autogeny, specifically the constitutive activation of the vitellogenin (Vg) gene pathway, which allows for egg production in nutrient-poor underground environments.
Through comparative case studies of subterranean systems in New York City, Tokyo, and Cairo, we highlight how varying architectural and hydrological conditions lead to different patterns of genetic clustering and “island evolution.” Furthermore, the review addresses the impact of climate change, arguing that rising surface temperatures are forcing traditionally epigaeic species, such as Aedes albopictus, into subterranean refugia. These underground populations act as year-round “pathogen incubators” and bridge vectors, facilitating the transmission of arboviruses like West Nile Virus from isolated reservoirs to surface-dwelling human populations. This research concludes that modern public health surveillance must transition from a surface-centric model to a three-dimensional approach, utilizing emerging technologies like eDNA and automated acoustic monitoring to mitigate the risks posed by these hidden evolutionary hotspots.
Keywords: Subterranean Evolution, Culex pipiens f. molestus, Urban Entomology, Autogeny, Bridge Vectors, Genetic Isolation, Anthropogenic Habitats.
Page No: 94-102