A vector is an organism that transmits a pathogen, such as malaria, an intracellular parasite, which can cause serious diseases in humans or animals, from one host to another, playing a crucial role in disease spread. While mosquitoes are among the most well-known vectors, there are many others, including various species of flies, ticks, and even snails.

Among the blood-feeding mosquitoes, several genera are significant vectors of human diseases. These mosquito vectors can transmit pathogens ranging from viruses, parasites, and bacteria, leading to diseases such as malaria, dengue, and Zika. The primary mosquito genera that act as vectors include Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex, each associated with specific diseases.

Main Mosquito Vector Genera and Their Pathogens

These mosquito genera are the main vectors of significant human diseases globally, but they are not alone. Many mosquito species do not transmit diseases, and it is essential to identify and document both vector and non-vector species. This project plays a vital role in improving our understanding of the distribution and ecology of all mosquito species by collecting data on each one.

In summary, identifying both vector and non-vector mosquito species is crucial for understanding disease transmission, improving public health efforts, and conserving biodiversity. Your contributions to this project are invaluable in helping to distinguish between vector and non-vector species, ultimately aiding in the global fight against mosquito-borne diseases.

Best,

Durrell @cydno

PS. More to explore:

To learn more, drill down into detailed information for specific mosquito species you observe.

For those looking to explore the topic further, here are some authoritative sources:

• World Health Organization (WHO) on Vector-Borne Diseases
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Mosquito-Borne Diseases
• Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Mosquito Control

Hello, mosquito enthusiasts and community scientists!

It’s been quite a while since we started this project before the pandemic turned our world upside down. But just like mosquitoes are ever-present, our community has continued growing and thriving despite the hiatus. It’s time to reconnect and share some details and updates with you.

Most mosquito species that bite humans are not significant vectors of human diseases. However, distinguishing between vector and non-vector species is crucial, which is why we include all mosquito species in this project. By focusing on accurately identifying mosquito species, particularly those in the genera Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex, we can better understand the distribution and behavior of vectors and non-vectors alike.

Project Milestones: Over 100K Observations!

As of now, the Mosquito Vectors project has amassed:

• 135,136 Observations
• 788 Species
• 48,740 People contributing from all corners of the globe

These numbers represent the collective effort of all iNaturalist users who have taken the time to photograph mosquitoes and those who have helped identify them.

Celebrating Global Contributions

We owe a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed their time and skills to photodocumenting and identifying mosquitoes. Your efforts are crucial in three key ways:

1. Capturing the Moment: The photographs, often taken with smartphone cameras, are the first step in documenting the mosquitoes that people encounter. These images provide invaluable visual records that help build our understanding of mosquito distribution and behavior.
2. Identifying the Species: Just as important as capturing the images is the work of those identifying the species in these photos. This identification process is critical, especially because non-vector species are often confused with vector species.
3. Training the Algorithm: It seems like everything is AI these days, but iNaturalist got there first. The iNaturalist machine learning algorithm is constantly improving with the increase in accurately identified research-grade observations. When you help accurately identify mosquitoes, you improve the training data for the iNaturalist machine learning model.* This, in turn, helps the model better distinguish between vector and non-vector species, enhancing the accuracy of future identifications.

Spotlight on Toxorhynchites

One fascinating group of mosquitoes that deserves special mention is the genus Toxorhynchites. As larvae, these mosquitoes are predators of other mosquito larvae, playing a unique role in the ecosystem. They are also notable for their large size, which sets them apart from the smaller species that are vectors of human diseases. Importantly, Toxorhynchites are not vectors of any human diseases because the females do not feed on blood. Due to their size, Toxorhynchites are not often confused with the smaller, vector species, but their documentation is still crucial. Understanding their distribution and behavior adds another layer to our knowledge of mosquito ecology and helps ensure that non-vector species are accurately represented in our data.

Looking Ahead

I encourage you to keep the observations and identifications coming. Whether you're documenting a common mosquito in your backyard, a rare species in a remote part of the world, or helping to identify any species from across the planet, your contribution matters. Together, we can continue to build this invaluable resource for mosquito research and conservation.

Thank you for being part of this global community. There are many more observations and identifications to come!

Happy observing and identifying!

Best,

Durrell (@cydno)

* I’m aware that in some cases, species or objects that the iNaturalist machine learning algorithm confused with a mosquito have been included, making up a small but notable portion of the observations. If you notice any such instances, please send me a message! Overall, even the observations of non-mosquitoes, once corrected, help retrain the machine ID algorithm and add to the overall growing body of knowledge about mosquitoes, both vectors and non-vectors, worldwide!

Hi all,

I am starting this iNaturalist project to gather all the observations of medically important mosquito species into one place. For now let's focus on Aedes mosquitoes responsible for the expanding Zika epidemic now declared a public health emergency. The primary species to worry about is the Yellow-fever Mosquito, Aedes aegypti.

Also of concern is the more widespread Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes albopictus. Other mosquito genera that vector significant human pathogens will be hi-lit here: Anopheles, Culex, Culiseta, Haemagogus and Ochlerotatus.

We will happily host any mosquito species record as well because it important to understand which species are not a problem for humans, so generally improving the understanding of the status and distribution of non-vector species is also important.

Please see the project that has been running for a while to get more information until it is added/updated over here:

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/mosquitoes-in-hawaii

Stay safe!

Durrell

Durrell D. Kapan, Ph.D.
Senior Research Fellow
Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability
California Academy of Sciences