Two virus-carrying mosquito species discovered, nine new ones in a decade

"The presence of any exotic mosquito is important from a nuisance, or biting, standpoint," said Nathan Burkett-Cadena, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of entomology at the UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach, Florida. "However, these two species are known to transmit pathogens that affect human and animal health."

Burkett-Cadena found the mosquito species Aedeomyia squamipennis and Culex panocossa in Florida City and Homestead, both in south Miami-Dade County. He and Erik Blosser, a post-doctoral researcher at the FMEL, were visiting South Florida to collect a native mosquito species, Culex cedecei, to investigate its biology and ecology, when they noticed the two non-native species.

They took samples from several environments including forests, farms, roadside ditches and even populated areas using carbon dioxide-baited light traps and vacuums to collect adults and buckets to collect larvae.

Everglades virus, a type of encephalitis virus, is found in South Florida, said Burkett-Cadena, and Culex panocossa is known to transmit encephalitis viruses. Although the new species were found in South Florida, they will likely spread to North Florida and perhaps neighboring states because of widespread, suitable larval habitat, particularly water lettuce, he said.

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for Everglades virus, so preventing mosquito bites is the best protection against infection. While it's not mosquito season in North Florida, your best protection against getting bitten by any of these mosquitoes is to wear protective clothing and use repellents, preferably ones that have DEET.

Burkett-Cadena has just published a paper in the Journal of Medical Entomology in which he documents how he found Aedeomyia squamipennis. He is simultaneously publishing a paper in the journal Acta Tropica that reports on his discovery of Culex panocossa. Until now, both species have been reported only in Central and South America. Now they're established in Florida.