Mosquito Species Composition and Abundance in Quebec, Eastern Canada

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Vector-borne disease ecology
• Climate change impact

Background:

• Geographic shifts in mosquito species composition are predicted due to climate change.
• Understanding mosquito populations is crucial for assessing vector-borne pathogen transmission risks in Canada.
• Limited data exists on mosquito species distribution and history in Canada.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify mosquito species present in Quebec Province, Canada.
• To assess the potential role of these species in pathogen transmission.
• To establish baseline data for future ecological and epidemiological studies.

Main Methods:

• Mosquitoes were collected using BG sentinel traps in Quebec from June to September 2018-2019.
• Morphological identification was followed by DNA barcoding (cytochrome oxidase I gene) for confirmation.
• Neighbor-Joining phylogenetic trees were constructed using Geneious software.

Main Results:

• A total of 2,752 female mosquitoes from 20 species across five genera (Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, Culiseta, Coquillettidia) were identified.
• Aedes cinereus was the predominant species collected.
• The invasive species Aedes japonicus was detected in Quebec, indicating a northward range expansion.

Conclusions:

• The study provides an updated inventory of mosquito species in Quebec, Canada.
• The presence of Aedes japonicus suggests a potential increase in the risk of arboviruses for Canadians.
• Continued monitoring of mosquito populations is essential for public health preparedness.