Geographic distribution and environmental associations of Psorophora mexicana (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Abstract

Psorophora mexicana (Bellardi) is a rare mosquito species with limited information on its taxonomy, geographic distribution, and ecological preferences. In Mexico, presence records are scarce and largely outdated, particularly in the Yucatan Peninsula. Here, we document the current distribution of Ps. mexicana based on collections conducted between 2017 and 2025 across 14 localities in Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan states, including the first confirmed record for Quintana Roo. Specimens were identified morphologically and genetically using the mitochondrial region cytochrome c oxidase I DNA barcoding. Generated sequences, representing the first records for Ps. mexicana in NCBI and BOLD Systems, and a phylogeny including 19 species of Psorophora was generated using a Bayesian phylogenetic framework. Environmental variables were explored using principal component analysis, revealing that Ps. mexicana currently occupies a broad spectrum of environmental conditions spanning multiple land-use types and gradients of habitat integrity. These results contrast clearly with previous Mexican records for this species, which have consistently characterized its distribution as restricted to anthropogenically disturbed habitats, predominantly urban environments, particularly in proximity to coastal regions. Our findings expand the known distribution of Ps. mexicana in southeastern Mexico and provide updated ecological and molecular insights into a poorly known species, highlighting its potential for increased human-mosquito contact in suitable environments.