First record of a medically important vector, the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1895) (Diptera: Culicidae), using morphological and molecular data in northern Iran

Abstract

Iranian mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) include 73 species across eight genera. The fauna of mosquitoes in Guilan Province comprises 34 species classified into seven genera. A faunistic study of mosquitoes was conducted with emphasis on an aggressive biter mosquito reported by local people in Anzali and Rasht Cities of Guilan Province, northern Iran. Collections were made by hand catches using manual aspirators, light traps, BG lure traps and ovitraps during August–November 2023 in all 17 counties of the province. Species identification was carried out using morphological keys and molecular analysis of the barcode region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. In total, 29 larvae and 896 adult specimens were collected which were not recognized as a species previously known to occur in the province. The aggressive biter mosquito was morphologically identified as Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1895). The sequences of the barcode region of the COI gene of the species were generated for the first time in the country. This species was collected in 14 counties of the province. Thus, the mosquito fauna of Guilan Province increased to 35 species.

Keywords

• cytochrome c oxidase i
• dengue fever
• guilan province
• invasive species
• stegomyia albopicta