Journal of medical entomology最新文献

{"title":"Ultrastructure of antennal sensory organs in Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Diptera: Sarcophagidae).","authors":"Shumin Du, Jianwei Bai, Wanming Jiao, Huar Bao, Bin Yang, Baoxiang Han, Haobo Li, Siriguleng Yu, Demtu Er","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag152","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjag152","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Schiner 1861) is the sole causative agent of vaginal myiasis in Bactrian camels, and its antennal sensilla serve as essential sensory organs for detecting environmental chemical cues. However, no systematic study has been reported on the morphology of antennal sensilla in male and female. Here, we examined and compared the antennal morphology of male and female W. magnifica using scanning electron microscopy. The antennae consist of 3 main segments, the scape, pedicel, and funiculus, with an arista arising from the funiculus. Four sensillum types were identified: chaetica, trichodea, basiconica, and coeloconica. The total antennal, scape and funiculus lengths were significantly greater in females than in males. Females also bore significantly more olfactory pits on the funiculus. In males, Str I exhibited a significantly shorter but a significantly larger basal diameter and abundance than in females, with micropores on their surfaces. Both the length and abundance of Ba II and III were significantly greater in females than in males. Males showed significantly greater length and basal diameter of Co than did females. These findings demonstrate clear sexual dimorphism in the antennal sensilla of W. magnifica. Females appear to have a sensory advantage, potentially facilitating host location and larviposition site selection, whereas the specialized, porous Str I in males may be involved in sex pheromone detection. This study provides a morphological basis for future investigations into the mechanisms underlying host location and mate recognition, as well as for the development of attractants and repellents for this species.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149149406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of COI DNA barcode to identify phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Maranhão in leishmaniasis-endemic areas, Northeast Brazil.","authors":"Maxcilene da Silva de Oliveira, Rosa Cristina Ribeiro da Silva, Bruno Leite Rodrigues, Judson Chaves Rodrigues, Antonia Suely Guimarães E Silva, Valéria Cristina Soares Pinheiro","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag145","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjag145","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluated the effectiveness of DNA barcoding, based on the mitochondrial COI gene, in delimiting species of the subfamily Phlebotominae from Maranhão, in addition to generating new molecular information and detecting possible cryptic species. Fragments of the COI gene were sequenced and integrated into public GenBank data. The species was delimited by means of species delimitation algorithms based on genetic distance (ABGD and ASAP) and phylogenetic gene trees (PTP), making it possible to identify patterns of cryptic diversity. In total, 54 consensus sequences were obtained, representing 23 species. Among these, Lutzomyia gomezi (Nitzulescu, 1931) and Psathyromyia punctigeniculata (Floch & Abonnenc, 1941) represent the first COI barcode sequences for these species in Brazil. BLAST and BOLD analysis coincided with morphological identification in most cases. The species Lu. sherlocki (Martins, Silva & Falcão, 1971) showed the greatest intraspecific distance and split into 2 clusters/MOTUs, suggesting the presence of distinct COI lineages or cryptic diversity. Unique clusters merging individuals of morphologically recognized species were also observed, such as Evandromyia lenti (Mangabeira, 1938)/Ev. carmelinoi (Ryan, Fraiha, Lainson & Shaw, 1986) and Psychodopygus complexus (Mangabeira, 1941)/Ps. wellcomei Fraiha, Shaw & Lainson, 1971. In view of these results, the need for further investigations using other molecular markers is evident, in order to expand the taxonomic resolution of these groups. Still, DNA barcoding (COI) proved to be efficient in delimiting most species and detecting possible cryptic species, while substantially expanding the molecular reference database for sand flies from Maranhão.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148972857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ultrastructure of the wing-coupling apparatus in seven Triatominae species (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) from North America.","authors":"Nayeli Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Osiris Valerio-Mendoza, Benjamín Nogueda-Torres, Tzintli Meraz-Medina, José Alejandro Martínez-Ibarra","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjag161","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Triatomines are the primary vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas), the causative organism of Chagas disease, one of the most important vector-borne diseases in Mexico. Triatomine dispersal encompasses a broad spectrum of flight capacities, ranging from short-distance, low-altitude flights to active, sustained dispersal in certain species. Although recent studies have examined the phenotypic and genetic variability of flight-related traits, the specific morphological constraints hindering their aerodynamic efficiency remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to provide a comparative ultrastructural description of the wing-coupling apparatus (coaptor) in seven North American triatomine species: Triatoma bassolsae (Alejandre et al.), T. picturata (Usinger), T. pallidipennis (Stål), T. longipennis (Usinger), T. rubida (Uhler), T. mazzottii (Usinger), and Paratriatoma lecticularia (Stål). Using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the topography of the ctenidia, the mechanical gap, and imbricated scale-like structures were characterized. The results revealed a consistent tripartite morphological pattern across all species; however, all the species exhibited a central morphological discontinuity separating the ctenidium from the posterior rugose prominence. Ctenidial bristle count showed interspecific variation, ranging from 16 visible bristles in T. rubida to 33 in T. bassolsae. These counts corresponded to the anterior row of the ctenidium captured in SEM micrographs at 500× magnification. These findings provide high-resolution diagnostic cuticular characters for species differentiation and led to the hypothesis that a structural discontinuity along the hemelytron margin may influence functional wing coupling. This study highlights the importance of ultrastructural analysis in providing high-resolution diagnostic traits to complement traditional taxonomy and understanding Triatominae functional morphology.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149187039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How reliable is the use of ovarian dilatations for mosquito age-grading? A blinded multi-rater validation of the Polovodova method in Anopheles mosquitoes.","authors":"Doreen Josen Siria, Halfan Ngowo, Emmanuel Hape, Mohamed Jumanne, Gerald Tamayamali, Laurent Mtima, Heather M Ferguson, Fredros Okumu, Francesco Baldini","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag157","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjag157","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Accurate estimation of mosquito age is critical for malaria surveillance, as only older female Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit the parasite. Traditional age-grading methods include the Polovodova technique in which dilatations on the ovarian pedicel to tally completed gonotrophic cycles (GC) are counted. Despite their widespread use, these techniques remain poorly validated under realistic operational conditions, with limited evidence on their precision and accuracy across different parity rates, GC, and species. In this study, the accuracy and precision of the Polovodova method were evaluated across multiple age-graders and species under both laboratory and field conditions. A blinded validation study was conducted using laboratory-reared Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus (N > 3,600) spanning 4 GC and field-collected mosquitoes from Ulanga district, Tanzania (N = 600). Three blinded researchers performed dissections and readings, while a fourth unblinded researcher served as the reference reader (R0) to obtain ground truth (for parity) or assumed truth (for GC) for laboratory mosquitoes. Accuracy and precision for parity and GC classification were assessed using pairwise inter-rater comparisons, percent agreement, Fleiss' kappa, and Cohen's kappa (κ) statistics. For field mosquitoes, which had no age-referenced group, only precision was assessed. The Polovodova method accurately classified parity in both species, correctly identifying 98% to 100% of nulliparous and 94% to 96% of parous mosquitoes compared with the reference dataset. Inter-rater reliability for parity was almost perfect in An. arabiensis and An. funestus (κ = 0.81 to 0.83), with 82% to 96% pairwise agreement. GC classification was highly accurate for early stages (GC0 to GC2: 85% to 100%) but declined at later stages GC4 (34% to 46%), reflecting systematic underestimation of mosquito age. Overall GC reliability was moderate (κ = 0.56 to 0.59). Field classifications showed almost perfect agreement (κ = 0.87 to 0.88), supporting operational applicability. The Polovodova method provides robust estimates of parity and early gonotrophic-cycle status in Anopheles mosquitoes, but late-cycle classifications are more prone to reader disagreement and systematic underestimation. Operational use should therefore rely on trained multiple-reader workflows, including adjudication of discordant or late-cycle specimens, rather than single-reader classification. These findings provide empirical benchmarks for quality-assured Polovodova age-grading in malaria vector surveillance and intervention evaluation.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13633664/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149120924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatio-temporal dynamics and diversity of hematophagous flies (Diptera: Muscidae, Tabanidae, and Glossinidae) in livestock areas of Southern Benin: dominance of Stomoxys and occurrence of Glossina tachinoides with implications for vector surveillance.","authors":"Zul-Kifl Affolabi, Razaki A Ossè, Minassou Juvénal Ahouandjinou, Steve Zinsou Hougbe, Koffi Djigbodi Koumodji, Prudenciène A Agboho, Linda Towakinou, Andil Agbo-Ola, Rock Aïkpon, Ghislain T Tepa-Yotto, Sabbas Attindéhou, Filémon Tokponnon, Martin Akogbeto","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjag160","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>African animal trypanosomiases (AAT) are vector-borne diseases transmitted by hematophagous flies, causing substantial economic losses in sub-Saharan African livestock systems. No multisite, inter-seasonal entomological study has previously characterized vector communities in southern Benin. This study characterizes their spatio-temporal distribution and diversity to inform AAT surveillance. A multisite survey was conducted across 6 communes during 2 contrasting seasons in 2025, using Vavoua, biconical, and Nzi traps deployed for 72 consecutive hours per session. Flies were identified morphologically, and apparent density per trap per day (ADT) was estimated with 95% confidence intervals. Diversity was assessed via richness, Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, and Pielou indices, and a negative binomial GLM tested effects of commune, season, and their interaction on ADT. Tsetse flies were confirmed by ITS1-PCR. Overall, 6,550 flies from 5 genera and 10 species were collected (ADT = 10.11 [95% CI: 8.53 to 11.73] flies/trap/day). Stomoxys niger dominated (92.5%), followed by Stomoxys calcitrans (4.7%), Chrysops distinctipennis (1.1%), and Tabanus par (1.0%); remaining species each contributed <0.3%. Capture rates differed markedly among trap types (18.5, 9.5, and 1.9 flies/trap/night for Vavoua, Nzi, and biconical traps; P < 0.001). Six Glossina tachinoides were confirmed exclusively in Dogbo. ADT varied significantly by commune, season, and their interaction. Diversity was consistently low (Shannon H' = 0.18 to 0.70), and rarefaction/extrapolation indicated adequate sampling completeness. This first inventory reveals a community strongly dominated by S. niger and supports persistence of a residual tsetse focus in Dogbo. Dangbo, Djidja, and Dogbo emerge as priority surveillance areas, with implications beyond classical tsetse-focused control.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149187064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential geographic distribution and host utilization of Alectorobius puertoricensis (Ixodida: Argasidae) in the Caribbean Basin: a putative vector of African swine fever virus.","authors":"Taylor G Donaldson, Hsiao-Hsuan Wang, Charluz M Arocho Rosario, Pete D Teel, William E Grant, Gabriel L Hamer, Kathleen C O'Hara, Angela M James, Phillip E Kaufman","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag162","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjag162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alectorobius puertoricensis (Fox 1947) (Ixodida: Argasidae) is a nidicolous soft tick distributed throughout the Caribbean Basin and has been experimentally shown to transmit African swine fever virus (ASFV). Given the reemergence of African swine fever (ASF) in the Caribbean in 2021, defining the potential distribution, host utilization, and environmental conditions of this tick species is essential for assessing its regional ASFV risk in the western hemisphere. This study compiled historical occurrence records and hosts associated with A. puertoricensis from published literature and diagnostic reports. These data were used to develop a species distribution model using Maxent to estimate the potential geographic distribution of A. puertoricensis across the Caribbean Basin. Environmental predictors were selected based on biological relevance and collinearity assessment within a defined area. Model performance indicated good discriminatory ability, with the potential geographic distribution concentrated in lowland tropical and subtropical regions characterized by warm temperatures and variable precipitation. Host records demonstrated a broad variety of vertebrate hosts, with rodents representing the most frequently documented hosts, consistent with a potential role in maintaining local tick populations. Several occurrence records placed A. puertoricensis in peridomestic and livestock-associated environments relevant to swine exposure. When interpreted in the context of regional animal movement and connectivity, areas where environmental suitability for A. puertoricensis overlaps with ports, coastal communities, and population centers may represent elevated concern for ASF exposure should the virus be introduced. These findings provide a framework for incorporating soft tick ecology into ASF preparedness and surveillance efforts in the Caribbean.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13677060/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149220862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Species-specific environmental drivers of mosquito abundance in a coastal lagoon system of Florida.","authors":"Vivek Pokhrel, Kyle Kosinski, Shawna James, Morgan Kyzer, Sherry Burroughs","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag146","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjag146","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mosquito abundance is strongly influenced by environmental conditions, yet species-specific responses to weather and land-cover variables remain insufficiently quantified in operational mosquito control programs. This study integrates multi-year surveillance data (2021-2024) with environmental predictors to identify drivers of mosquito abundance in a coastal landscape in Indian River County, Florida, USA with analyses focused on Culex nigripalpus, Aedes taeniorhynchus, and Aedes albopictus. Species-specific generalized linear mixed-effects models with a negative binomial distribution were used to relate mosquito abundance to lagged temperature, precipitation (including quadratic terms), and land-cover variables (wetlands, impervious surfaces, and marine lagoon habitats). Model performance was evaluated using temporal and spatial cross-validation. Distinct ecological responses were observed among species. Cx. nigripalpus was strongly associated with precipitation and wetland cover, with peak abundance at intermediate rainfall levels. Ae. taeniorhynchus showed strong positive associations with coastal and lagoon habitats and nonlinear responses to precipitation. In contrast, Ae. albopictus was primarily driven by temperature and impervious surface cover, with reduced abundance in wetland and coastal lagoon habitats. Spatial predictions revealed clear ecological partitioning among species. The results demonstrate that mosquito abundance in coastal landscapes is strongly structured by interactions among weather, land cover, and habitat type. Integrating environmental data with surveillance records offers a practical framework for predicting mosquito abundance and enables operational mosquito control programs to more precisely identify high-risk areas and optimal times for intervention, ultimately improving the efficiency and effectiveness of spatial and temporal targeting of vector control measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149002720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Protective efficacy and user acceptability of DEET and Vetiver essential oil repellents against Anopheles dirus (Diptera: Culicidae): semi-field and community-based evaluations.","authors":"Manop Saeung, Natapong Jupatanakul, Niramon Jampeesri, Watthanasak Lertlumnaphakul, John Aerol Maligaya Nobleza, Dae-Yun Kim, Suparat Phuanukoonnon, Sylvie Manguin, Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag148","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjag148","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Topical repellents are considered as valuable supplementary tools for reducing vector-borne disease transmission risk by preventing mosquito bites. Plant-based formulations have attracted growing interest as safer, more acceptable alternatives to synthetic repellents, yet evidence for their real-world effectiveness remains limited. This study evaluated the protective efficacy of two topical repellents, DEET and Vetiver essential oil (Vetiver E.O.) against Anopheles dirus Peyton & Harrison, a main malaria vector species, through semi-field system (SFS) trials. These tests were followed by a nine-month community-level randomized trial in Khun Han District, Sisaket Province, with concurrent social science evaluation. In the SFS trials, DEET reduced mosquito landing by 95.75% over 6 h, while Vetiver E.O. conferred moderate protection at 51.9%. Both products also reduced the percentage of blood-feeding, suggesting additional transmission-reducing potential beyond simple landing deterrence. At the community level, 457 participants were randomized into DEET, Vetiver E.O., and placebo groups. DEET participants demonstrated substantially higher product collection adherence and frequency of use than Vetiver E.O. or placebo participants. Participant-reported efficacy and acceptability ratings for Vetiver E.O. were comparable to the placebo group, suggesting that its biological activity was insufficient to generate a perceptible benefit under field conditions. Across all groups, participants predominantly applied repellents to clothing rather than exposed skin, likely attenuating real-world protective efficacy. These findings support the establishment of a minimum efficacy threshold under semi-field conditions before proceeding to community trials with candidate repellents and underscore the need to implement personal protection strategies that minimize the need for regular application by each individual.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149009675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacillus velezensis as an active ingredient in toxic sugar baits against adult Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae).","authors":"Abdullah A Alomar, Barry W Alto","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjag140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Toxic sugar baits (TSBs) exploit mosquito sugar-feeding behavior to deliver orally ingested lethal toxins. Most existing TSB formulations rely on synthetic chemical insecticides, highlighting the need to evaluate alternative active ingredients compatible with TSB delivery systems. Bacillus velezensis (Bv), a bacterium with demonstrated mosquitocidal activity, represents a promising microbial active ingredient but has not previously been evaluated as the active ingredient in TSBs. We evaluated the oral toxicity effects of Bv crude toxin-containing sugar bait (BvTSB) against adult Cx. quinquefasciatus, quantifying acute mortality, longevity, and reproductive outcomes. Ingestion of BvTSB caused significant lethal mortality in both sexes compared to sugar-fed controls, with males exhibiting greater susceptibility than females. Sublethal exposure reduced adult longevity, decreased egg production, and lowered fertility. These results demonstrate that Bv adversely affects multiple life history traits relevant to mosquito population dynamics and impairs traits related to vectorial capacity. Collectively, our findings show that Bv, when used as the active ingredient in toxic sugar baits, exhibits substantial mosquitocidal activity against adult Cx. quinquefasciatus and may serve as an alternative active ingredient to conventional chemical insecticides in TSB-based vector control.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148898684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geographic distribution and environmental associations of Psorophora mexicana (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.","authors":"Rahuel J Chan-Chable, César R Rodríguez-Luna, Román Espinal-Palomino, Roger Arana Guardia, Gerardo Suzán, Luis D Ávila-Cabadilla, Mariana Y Álvarez-Añorve, Ana C Montes de Oca-Aguilar, Aldo I Ortega-Morales, Carlos N Ibarra-Cerdeña","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag143","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjag143","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>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.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148993374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}