Abundance and diversity of host-seeking adult female mosquitoes in a coastal ecosystem in southern Mexico

TL;DR

This study examines mosquito diversity and activity in southern Mexico, finding that disease-carrying species peak during a specific season.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into mosquito community dynamics in a coastal Mexican ecosystem and their public health implications.

Findings

Mosquito abundance and richness peaked during the norte season with cooler temperatures and moderate rainfall.

Aedes taeniorhynchus was the most dominant species in brackish and freshwater habitats.

84% of recorded species are known disease vectors, highlighting public health risks.

Abstract

Mosquito diversity influences disease risk because only certain species transmit pathogens, making the identification of species assemblages essential. To better understand mosquito diversity in the southern Gulf of Mexico, we conducted a study on Isla del Carmen, Campeche, from September 2019 to December 2020. Adult mosquitoes were collected using buccal aspirators during 24-hour cycles in mangrove and low-semideciduous forest patches across three climate seasons: norte, rainy and dry. Sampling occurred every four hours, and species were identified. Hill numbers of order q = 0, q = 1, and q = 2, non-binomial GLMs, NMDS, PERMANOVA, and generalized estimating equations were used to analyze mosquito diversity, abundance, and phenology. We collected 21,424 mosquitoes from 11 genera, 26 species, and four morphospecies. The mosquito abundance and richness peaked during the norte season (β = 1.057, z = 2.480, p = 0.013), with the season being the primary determinant of abundance (PERMANOVA, F = 7.229, R² = 0.512, p = 0.003). The vegetation type and sampling hour showed effects only when excluding the eudominant Aedes taeniorhynchus. The top five genera, Aedes, Psorophora, Mansonia, Culex and Anopheles, exhibited distinct phenological patterns, with abundance peaking between September 2019 and February 2020. Isla del Carmen is a key region for mosquito diversity in the Yucatan Peninsula, hosting species known to transmit pathogens to humans and wildlife. Our findings highlight the norte season, when cooler temperatures and moderate rainfall are present, as a critical period for mosquito activity, emphasizing the need for targeted vector surveillance and control efforts during this time in the region. This study provides valuable insights into mosquito community dynamics and their implications for public health in coastal areas of southern Mexico.

Mosquitoes are vectors of diseases that affect humans and animals. Despite their global significance, there is still much to learn about their diversity and behavior. We examined host-seeking adult female mosquito diversity, abundance, and activity patterns in southern Mexico’s semi-conserved coastal area of Isla del Carmen. Human landing collection sampling was conducted monthly in mangrove and semideciduous forest habitats for over a year, covering an entire 24-hour cycle during different seasons. Among the 26 recorded species, 84% are known vectors of diseases such as dengue, Zika, and encephalitis. The results revealed mosquito diversity and activity peak during the norte season, characterized by cooler temperatures and moderate rainfall. The black salt marsh mosquito, Aedes taeniorhynchus, was the most dominant species due to its ability to thrive in the region’s brackish and freshwater habitats. Other medically important mosquito species were recorded, highlighting the potential health risks for humans and wildlife. This research provides essential baseline data for understanding mosquito populations in tropical coastal ecosystems, designing disease control strategies, and preserving ecological balance, particularly as climate and land use changes may alter mosquito distribution and activity in the future. This work bridges the gap between mosquito ecology and its public health and conservation implications.

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