An updated checklist of mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) from Madagascar.
An updated checklist of 235 mosquito species from Madagascar is presented. The number of species has increased considerably compared to previous checklists, particularly the last published in 2003 (178 species). This annotated checklist provides concise information on endemism, taxonomic position, developmental stages, larval habitats, distribution, behavior, and vector-borne diseases potentially transmitted. The 235 species belong to 14 genera: Aedeomyia (3 species), Aedes (35 species), Anopheles (26 species), Coquillettidia (3 species), Culex (at least 50 species), Eretmapodites (4 species), Ficalbia (2 species), Hodgesia (at least one species), Lutzia (one species), Mansonia (2 species), Mimomyia (22 species), Orthopodomyia (8 species), Toxorhynchites (6 species), and Uranotaenia (73 species). Due to non-deciphered species complexes, several species remain undescribed. The main remarkable characteristic of Malagasy mosquito fauna is the high biodiversity with 138 endemic species (59%). Presence and abundance of species, and their association, in a given location could be a bio-indicator of environmental particularities such as urban, rural, forested, deforested, and mountainous habitats. Finally, taking into account that Malagasy culicidian fauna includes 64 species (27%) with a known medical or veterinary interest in the world, knowledge of their biology and host preference summarized in this paper improves understanding of their involvement in pathogen transmission in Madagascar.
Laboratoire d'Entomologie Médicale, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar.
Michaël Luciano
ML
Tantely
IRD UMR MIVEGEC, 34394 Montpellier and IRD La Réunion-GIP CYROI, 97490 Sainte Clotilde, La Réunion, France.
Gilbert
G
Le Goff
Laboratoire d'Entomologie Médicale, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar.
Sébastien
S
Boyer
IRD UMR MIVEGEC, 34394 Montpellier and Institut Pasteur du Cambodge 5, BP 983, Blvd. Monivong, 12201 Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Didier
D
Fontenille
D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D057189:Checklist; D009033:Culicidae / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification; D007814:Larva; D008270:Madagascar; D008297:Male; D010063:Ovum; D013045:Species Specificity