No abstract

Deforestation is a major threat to biodiversity but little data exist on how deforestation in real‐time affects the overall mosquito species community despite its known role in the transmission of diseases. We compared the abundance and diversity of Culex mosquitoes before and after deforestation along a gradient of three different anthropogenic disturbance levels in a tropical rainforest in southwestern Cameroon. The collections were conducted in unlogged forest (January, 2016), selectively logged forest (January, 2017), and within a young palm plantation (October, 2017) using net traps, sweep nets, resting traps, and dipping for immature stages in water bodies. Mosquitoes were morphologically identified to subspecies, groups, and species. A total of 2,556 mosquitoes was collected of which 1,663 (65.06%) belong to the genus Culex, (n=427 (25.68%) in the unlogged forest; n=900 (54.12%) in the selectively logged forest; and n=336 (20.2%) in the young palm plantation) with a significant difference among the habitats. Diversity and richness of mosquitoes varied significantly among habitats with the highest values found in the selectively logged forest (H=2.4; DS=0.87; S=33) and the lowest value in the unlogged forest (H=1.37; DS=0.68; S=13). The results of this study showed that deforestation affects the abundance and diversity of Culex mosquitoes and favors the invasion of anthropophilic mosquitoes. Higher mosquito abundance and diversity in the selectively logged forest than in the pristine forest is notable and some explanations for these differences are discussed.

Species of Culex (Diptera: Culicidae) belonging to the subgenus Culiciomyia were collected in partially logged areas and in surrounding pristine forest (Talangaye Forest) in the Nguti Subdivision in the South-West Region of Cameroon. Mosquitoes were collected mainly by sweep netting through forest floor vegetation. Morphological species identification of African Culiciomyia relies almost exclusively on the structure of the male genitalia and the shapes of comb scales on the maxillary palpi of males. Other features of males and the habitus of females are largely indistinguishable between the species of this subgenus. In total, seven currently described species and three new species were collected in the forest. The males of the three new species are described and named as Culex apicopilosus Cornel & Mayi, sp. n., Culex lanzaroi Cornel & Mayi, sp. n. and Culex pseudosubaequalis Cornel & Mayi, sp. n. More detailed descriptions of males of the other currently known species that were collected in the Talangaye Forest and pictorial keys to the males of all Afrotropical species of Culiciomyia, including the new species, are provided.

Very little data exist on the biology of an afrotropical rainforest mosquito Eretmapodites (Er.) in a world undergoing dramatic changes due to deforestation. The aim was to assess the efficacy of different trapping methods in the collection of Er. mosquito in forested area. This was a longitudinal study involving collection of mosquitoes for over two years. Multiple collection methods (grouped into two categories), were used; i) net baited and un-baited traps to collect adults, ii) techniques that target immature stages subsequently reared to adults. All males were identified by genitalia dissection. Five thousand seven hundred and four mosquitoes representing 11 genera among which 2,334 Er. were identified. Mosquito abundance was highest in the net traps (n = 1276 (56.4%)) and sweep nets (n = 393(17.4%)) respectively. The abundance was highest in green colored net traps (435(34.09%)) with significant value of χ2= 40.000, P < 0.001 and in pigeons baited traps (473 (37.06%)) with significant value of χ2= 42.000, P = 0.003. The diversity ranges from H’ = 2.65; DS = 0.84; SR = 24; ACE = 24.77 in sweep net to H’ = 0; DS = 0; SR = 1; ACE = 1 in rock pool among males mosquitoes. While for females, H = 1.14; DS = 0.71; SR = 5; ACE = 5.16, in sweep net to H = 0; DS = 0; SR = 1; ACE = 1 in rock pool, tarpaulin, resting cage. Net traps, bamboo pot, and sweep netting are efficient in collecting high abundance of forest mosquitoes in the Talanagaye rainforest.

Male specimens of Aedes stenostylus Cornel, Kowo & Mayi sp. nov. and Aedes leptolabis ssp. talangayensis Cornel, Kowo & Mayi sp. nov. are described. They were collected mainly by sweep netting through forest floor vegetation in partially logged areas and in the surrounding pristine forest (Talangaye Forest) in the Nguti Subdivision in the south-west region of Cameroon. An updated key of the Aedimorphus “Domesticus group” species, based on the morphology of the male genitalia is provided.