Abstract
BackgroundA century of studies have described particular aspects of relatively few mosquito species in southern Africa, mostly those species involved with disease transmission, specifically malaria and arboviruses. Patterns of community composition such as mosquito abundance and species diversity are often useful measures for medical entomologists to guide broader insights and projections regarding disease dynamics and potential introduction, spread or maintenance of globally spreading pathogens. However, little research has addressed these indicators in southern Africa.ResultsWe collected 7882 mosquitoes from net and light traps at 11 localities comprising 66 species in 8 genera. We collected an additional 8 species using supplementary collection techniques such as larval sampling, sweep-netting and indoor pyrethrum knockdown catches. Highest diversity and species richness was found in the Okavango Delta of Botswana and in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, while the lowest diversity and abundances were in the extreme southern tip of South Africa and in semi-desert Kalahari close to the South Africa border with Botswana. Species composition was more similar between proximal localities than distant ones (Linear model P-value = 0.005). Multiple arbovirus vector species were detected in all localities we surveyed (proportion of vector mosquito numbers were > 0.5 in all locations except Shingwedzi). Their proportions were highest (> 90%) in Vilankulo and Kogelberg.ConclusionsMultiple known arbovirus vector species were found in all study sites, whereas anopheline human malaria vector species in only some sites. The combination of net traps and light traps effectively sampled mosquito species attracted to carbon-dioxide or light, accounting for 89% of the 74 species collected. The 11% remaining species were collected using supplementary collection techniques mentioned above. The diversity of species weas highest in savanna type habitats, whereas low diversities were found in the drier Kalahari sands regions and the southern Cape fynbos regions.
Highlights
A century of studies have described particular aspects of relatively few mosquito species in southern Africa, mostly those species involved with disease transmission, malaria and arboviruses
Historic interest in the mosquitoes of southern Africa has largely been based on their role as vectors of human or animal disease
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps were not used in Vilankulo and in Lower Sabie the CDC light traps failed because of battery charging problems and the catch nets falling off the traps
Summary
A century of studies have described particular aspects of relatively few mosquito species in southern Africa, mostly those species involved with disease transmission, malaria and arboviruses. The increase in frequency of arbovirus outbreaks and rapid spread of such diseases, as well as scale of the public health consequences [61,62,63,64,65], have given rise to multiple calls for countries globally to raise vigilance regarding arboviruses [66, 67] and an associated need to understand the population status of known or potential vector mosquitoes. Our results would represent baseline species diversity data which future surveys could be compared to for assessing human impact in nearby areas of land use change. These studies are broadly aimed to develop projections and models of where arboviruses are likely to establish and persist when mosquito vector and vertebrate host data are combined
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