title: Culex (Melanoconion) panocossa from peninsular Florida, USA.
abstract: Culex (Melanoconion) panocossa is a suspected vector of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus in Central America. Prior to this report, Cx. panocossa was known from Central America (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, southern Mexico, Panama), northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela) and the Greater Antilles (Cuba and Jamaica). Larvae (n=5) and adults (n=4286) of Cx. panocossa were collected at two locations near Homestead, FL, which indicates substantial established populations of this probable vector species in the continental US. Since larvae of Cx. panocossa are associated with Pistia spp. (water lettuce), the distribution of this mosquito is likely to expand in Florida, where water lettuce is a major invasive plant in freshwater ecosystems. The putative establishment of Cx. panocossa in Florida is of significant concern from a public health perspective, as its proliferation in developed areas could link historically sylvatic transmission foci of Everglades virus with populated centers such as the greater Miami Metropolitan area.
authors.affiliation: Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 200 9th St. SE, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA.
authors.forename: Erik M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Blosser
authors.affiliation: Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 200 9th St. SE, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA. Electronic address: nburkettcadena@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Nathan D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Burkett-Cadena
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029064:Araceae / Q000821:virology; D003465:Culex / Q000821:virology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004666:Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine; D005431:Florida; D006736:Horses; D000072138:Mosquito Vectors / Q000821:virology*
keywords: Arbovirus; Distribution; Florida; Mosquito