A decade apart: stability in wing morphology of brazilian mosquitoes

Phenotypic variation is a key factor in how organisms adapt to their environments, with important consequences for disease vector dynamics. In mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), such variation can influence vectorial capacity, potentially altering the spread of pathogens. This study investigated whether wing size and shape of two potential vector species, Anopheles cruzii and Psorophora ferox, exhibited temporal variation over a decade in a preserved Atlantic Forest area in southern Brazil. Using geometric morphometrics on 80 female specimens per species (40 from 2005 to 40 from 2014 to 2015), we found no significant differences in wing shape or size between the two sampling periods. However, we did observe high intra-annual variability within each year, suggesting seasonal phenotypic plasticity rather than long-term shifts. These findings highlight the remarkable stability of mosquito populations in conserved environments over long timescales, even while seasonal changes continue to drive short-term phenotypic fluctuations. Understanding these dynamics is essential for refining vector surveillance and control strategies in diverse habitats.