79 - The Importance of Accurate Mosquito Identification

Culicidae is diverse and a medically important group of Diptera. More than 3,700 mosquito species are recognized globally, including 200 reported species in the United States. The purpose of this presentation is to reiterate the importance of accurate identification because it is the most important aspect of mosquito surveillance. Accurate identification provides the foundation of species distribution, relative abundance, bionomics, and potentially medical importance. However, accurate identification of mosquito species is challenging. Historically, mosquito species identification has been completed using only morphological characteristics. Identifying mosquitoes collected during surveillance can be complicated by geographic location, bionomics, and habitat; these are important factors in delineation of a species. Molecular taxonomy has more recently become a useful tool when identifying and classifying a species. In the United States, most species are easy to delineate; however, the genus Culex is often difficult to make species determinations for multiple reasons, including morphological variation, poor or unfavorable characters used to classify the species, and mutilated specimens caused by traps used for surveillance. Although challenging, accurate identification is fundamental to understanding the role and dynamics of various species in arbovirus, using control products efficiently, and implementing a successful integrated pest management program.