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Montalvo-Sabino E, Marquez-Ocaña OP, Otiniano-Moreno GA, Chuquiyauri-Talenas MA, Melo T, Seixas G, Parreira R, de Almeida APG. Description of New Morphological Variation of Culex (Culex) coronator Dyar and Knab, 1906 and First Report of Culex (Carrollia) bonnei Dyar, 1921 Found in the Central Region of Peru. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 53:987-996. [PMID: 38918340 PMCID: PMC11255002 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-024-01160-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) pose a significant threat to public health worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, where they act as primary vectors in transmission of infectious agents. In Peru, 182 culicid species have been identified and several species of the genus Culex are known to transmit arboviruses. However, knowledge of mosquito diversity and distribution remains limited, with many studies focusing on specific regions only. Here, we describe a new morphological variation of Cx. (Culex) coronator Dyar and Knab, 1906, and report the presence of Culex (Carrollia) bonnei Dyar, 1921 in the central region of Peru, Huanuco. Specimens were obtained through larvae collections and identified through morphologic characterization, including dissection of male genitalia, and molecular analyses. In total, 17 mosquitoes were analyzed, and the genitalia of the male specimens allowed the identification of Cx. coronator and Cx. bonnei. Partial sequences of the CoxI gene corresponding to these two species were obtained (N = 10). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the sequences of Cx. coronator grouped in a monophyletic clade with sequences ascribed to other species corresponding to the subgenus Carrollia, while Cx. bonnei specimens formed a monophyletic clade with homologous sequences from GenBank. This study underscores the importance of continued efforts to study the diversity and distribution of mosquitoes in Peru, including their potential role as vectors of human pathogens, to underpin effective disease control and prevention strategies, highlighting the importance of a complemented morphological and molecular analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Tiago Melo
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Lab in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (IHMT), Univ Nova de Lisboa (NOVA), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo Seixas
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Lab in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (IHMT), Univ Nova de Lisboa (NOVA), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Parreira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Lab in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (IHMT), Univ Nova de Lisboa (NOVA), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - António Paulo Gouveia de Almeida
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Lab in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (IHMT), Univ Nova de Lisboa (NOVA), Lisboa, Portugal.
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DNA Barcoding versus Morphological Variability of Pterostichus brevicornis brevicornis (Kirby, 1837) (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in the Arctic and Subarctic. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13020204. [PMID: 35206777 PMCID: PMC8876867 DOI: 10.3390/insects13020204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Taxonomic studies on a polymorphic species inhabiting a region with relatively uniform environmental conditions (e.g., the Arctic) should involve an integrative approach. Ground beetles such as the subgenus Cryobius of the genus Pterostichus are a successful group in expansion in the tundra biome. The current taxonomy of Cryobius species is unclear and could be considered an obstacle to ecological studies; knowledge of their distribution patterns in the Arctic is rather limited. In this study, the first report on the phylogeography and phylogeny of the most abundant tundra subspecies, P. (Cryobius) brevicornis brevicornis (Kirby, 1837), within its continuous range throughout northern Eurasia and North America is presented. The results indicated that the male genitalia morphology of P. b. brevicornis from Eurasian populations shared a higher geographic variability compared with the pronotum shape and the mitochondrial DNA sequences. Abstract The geographic patterns of genetic and morphological variability in ground beetles were examined throughout Northern Eurasia and North America using the most abundant circumpolar tundra subspecies, Pterostichus (Cryobius) brevicornis brevicornis (Kirby, 1837), as a model. Phylogenetic structure was assessed on the basis of a Bayesian approach using two DNA markers (partial sequences of the COI and 28S rRNA genes), while phylogeographic patterns and population genetic diversity were estimated using the COI gene only. Morphological patterns were analysed using elliptical Fourier coefficients that were calculated based on the pronotum and male genitalia shape outlines. The subspecies shares 23 COI haplotypes throughout its entire circumpolar range, while eight haplotypes of 28S rRNA were detected in Northern Eurasia. Phylogenetic analysis did not reveal subdivided species lineages with strict geographical imprint. The network, FST and uncorrected pairwise divergence analyses showed that the genetic distances between populations increase by longitude from Northeastern Asia to Europe. The genetic variability among the five studied geographical population groups of P. b. brevicornis was relatively high. The MANOVA showed significant regional divergence between local populations in Northern Eurasia based on both morphological markers, but only male genitalia variability was geographically structured. Neither the pronotum shape nor the male genitalia shape aligned with the phylogeographic patterns discovered on the basis of COI sequences. The genetic (COI) marker had more variation within, rather than among, population groups in addition to morphology of pronotum but not male genitalia.
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Oliveira-Christe R, Marrelli MT. Using geometric morphometric analysis of wings to identify mosquito species from the subgenus Microculex (Diptera: Culicidae). JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2021; 46:221-225. [PMID: 35230026 DOI: 10.52707/1081-1710-46.2.221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Oliveira-Christe
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Eneas Carvalho de Aguiar 470, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mauro Toledo Marrelli
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Eneas Carvalho de Aguiar 470, São Paulo, SP, Brazil,
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 715, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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The Influence of the pH and Salinity of Water in Breeding Sites on the Occurrence and Community Composition of Immature Mosquitoes in the Green Belt of the City of São Paulo, Brazil. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12090797. [PMID: 34564237 PMCID: PMC8469630 DOI: 10.3390/insects12090797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Immature mosquitoes are found in natural and artificial aquatic habitats. Variations in physicochemical parameters of water, such as pH, salinity, conductivity, and total dissolved solids, in breeding habitats can influence larval occurrence and drive the proliferation of adult mosquitoes. Herein, we investigated the association between different values of physicochemical parameters in a variety of aquatic habitats and the occurrence and community composition of immature mosquito species in two environmentally protected areas in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The aquatic habitats surveyed included epiphytic and ground bromeliads, bamboo internodes, ponds, tree hollows, lakes, and artificial containers. Our results revealed a statistically significant relationship between species occurrence and the variables of pH and salinity. The type of aquatic habitat also had a significant influence on mosquito species distribution. Investigating the interactions between immature mosquitoes and the environment in which they develop is important to elucidate the factors driving their occurrence and abundance, and could also be an important tool in planning and implementing immature mosquito control practices. Abstract The physicochemical parameters of water, such as pH, salinity, conductivity, and total dissolved solids, can influence mosquito larval development, survival, and abundance. Therefore, it is important to elucidate how these factors influence mosquito occurrence. We hypothesized that the occurrence and community composition of immature mosquito species are driven not only by the availability of suitable aquatic habitats, but also by the physicochemical factors of these habitats. The primary objective of this study was therefore to investigate the influence of the physicochemical parameters of water in different types of aquatic habitats on the occurrence of mosquito species in two remnants of Atlantic Forest in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Collections of immature mosquitoes and assessment of the physicochemical characteristics of the water in the collection sites were carried out for twelve months. The variation in species composition and occurrence with the measured physicochemical parameters and the type of breeding site was assessed using constrained ordination methods. The results indicate that there was a statistically significant difference in species composition as a function of the different types of aquatic habitats, and that pH had an influence on species occurrence even when the variance explained by the type of aquatic habitat was removed from the analysis. There was a statistically significant association between mosquito species occurrence and pH and salinity, and the former had a significant influence on the mosquito species collected regardless of the type of aquatic habitat, showing that the pH of the breeding site water is an important factor in driving mosquito population dynamics and species distribution.
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Invasion, establishment, and spread of invasive mosquitoes from the Culex coronator complex in urban areas of Miami-Dade County, Florida. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14620. [PMID: 34272411 PMCID: PMC8285413 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94202-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Species from the Culex coronator complex are Neotropical species and potential vectors of Saint Louis and West Nile viruses. Culex coronator was first described in Trinidad and Tobago in the early twentieth century and since then it has invaded and has been reported established in most countries of the Americas. Species from the Culex coronator complex were first detected in the United States in the state of Louisiana in 2004 and were subsequently detected in Florida in 2005, reaching Miami-Dade County in 2008. We hypothesize that species from the Cx. coronator complex are adapting to urban environments in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and are becoming more present and abundant in these areas. Therefore, our objective was to investigate the patterns of the presence and abundance of species from the Cx. coronator complex in the urban areas of Miami-Dade County. Here we used weekly data comprised of 32 CDC traps from 2012 to 2020 and 150 BG-Sentinel traps from 2016 to 2020. A total of 34,146 female mosquitoes from the Cx. coronator complex were collected, 26,138 by CDC traps and 8008 by BG-Sentinel traps. While the number of CDC traps that were positive was relatively constant at 26–30 positive traps per year, the number of positive BG-Sentinel traps varied substantially from 50 to 87 positive traps per year. Furthermore, the heat map and logistic general linear model for repeated measures analyses showed a significant increase in both the distribution and abundance of mosquitoes from the Cx. coronator complex, indicating that these species are becoming more common in anthropized habitats being able to thrive in highly urbanized areas. The increase in the distribution and abundance of species from the Cx. coronator complex is a major public health concern. The ability of species from the Cx. coronator complex to benefit from urbanization highlights the need to better understand the mechanisms of how invasive vector mosquito species are adapting and exploiting urban habitats.
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Multini LC, Wilke ABB, Marrelli MT. Urbanization as a driver for temporal wing-shape variation in Anopheles cruzii (Diptera: Culicidae). Acta Trop 2019; 190:30-36. [PMID: 30359567 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Anopheles cruzii is the main vector of human and simian malaria in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. This biome, which is an important hotspot of malaria transmission, has suffered fragmentation and deforestation as a result of urban expansion. Fragmentation and deforestation occur continually in the south of the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and findings of An. cruzii in the peridomicile have consequently become more frequent in this part of the city. Although An. cruzii is of considerable epidemiological importance, the impact of urbanization on the microevolution of this species in this malaria-endemic region has not been investigated to date. In this study, we investigated temporal variation in wing shape and size in An. cruzii populations collected in sylvatic, peri-urban and urban areas over a three-year period. Our results show a slight but significant phenotypic variation in all three populations over the study period. Time was a more powerful driver for wing variation than geographic distance. Temporal wing-shape variation appears to be positively associated with urbanization, suggesting that anthropogenic changes in the environment may be a strong driver for wing-shape variation in An. cruzii. Further studies using genetic markers are needed to assess genetic differentiation in these populations.
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Laurito M, Briscoe AG, Almirón WR, Harbach RE. Systematics of the Culex coronator complex (Diptera: Culicidae): morphological and molecular assessment. Zool J Linn Soc 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The Culex coronator complex of the mosquito subgenus Culex includes five currently recognized species: Cx. camposi, Cx. coronator, Cx. ousqua, Cx. usquatissimus and Cx. usquatus. Because of the confusing taxonomic history of the complex, we aimed to clarify the specific status of these nominal forms based on an examination of holotypes and lectotypes and molecular data from other specimens. Critical assessment of published descriptions and study of type specimens revealed that the known distributions of the five species overlap considerably and exhibit biotic sympatry in some areas. Sequences from the COI barcode region and complete mitochondrial genomes were used to assess the relationships and degree of genetic divergence of the species and two newly discovered morphological forms, Cx. coronator Forms 1 and 2. Genetic distances in the COI dataset varied from 0.00 to 2.67%, with the largest relative divergence being 4.41 between specimens of Cx. coronator and Cx. coronator Form 1. Bayesian Poisson tree process analysis of the COI barcode region also failed to provide support for the nominal species. Evidence from the morphological and molecular data thus leads us to conclude (at least provisionally) that the Cx. coronator complex is a single polymorphic species. The forms constitute a monophyletic group but there is no support for the specific status of the five nominal forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Laurito
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | - Walter R Almirón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ralph E Harbach
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
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