Species Diversity of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Various Coastal Bioecological Regions of Southern Iran.

Abstract

Blood-feeding mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) impose a major public-health burden in tropical regions of the world. They transmit many pathogens to humans and domesticated animals. This study investigated the diversity and abundance of mosquito larvae and adults in nine bioecological regions of Bushehr Province, southern Iran, from May to December 2022. Specimens were collected using standard dippers, CDC light traps, pit shelters, and aspirators on human and animal baits alongside key ecological variables such as temperature and habitat type. Diversity was further analyzed using Hill numbers (q = 0, 1, 2) through rarefaction and extrapolation with the iNEXT R package, which standardized sampling effort and confirmed that observed richness approached asymptotic values. Nineteen species representing five genera-Aedes (41%), Anopheles (12%), Culex (44.5%), Culiseta (1.2%), and Uranotaenia (1.2%)-were identified. Diversity analyses yielded mean α = 10.1 ± 3.2 species per habitat, β (Whittaker's index) = 1.8, and γ = 19 species for the entire region; Shannon H' = 2.31 ± 0.41, Simpson D = 0.44 ± 0.17, and evenness J = 0.63 ± 0.18. The dominance index (Cd = ni/N × 100) indicated Ae. caspius s.l. (Cd = 45% of adults, 30% of larvae) as the most preponderant species across habitats. The highest percentage (65.77%) distribution of this species was in the second largest, mainly nonlittoral county of Dashti, with a relatively high (0.451) Simpson Index incorporating both the abundance (biomass) patterns and species richness. The results highlight marked spatial heterogeneity related to temperature, humidity, and habitat type. Routine entomological surveillance and targeted vector-management strategies are suggested to reduce mosquito-borne disease risks in southern Iran. Since several collected species are potential vectors of medically important pathogens, regular surveillance, habitat management, and community awareness programs are recommended to mitigate mosquito-borne disease risks in southern Iran.