Assessment of expertise in morphological identification of mosquito species (Diptera, Culicidae) using photomicrographs

Abstract

Accurate identification of insect species is an indispensable and challenging requirement for every entomologist, particularly if the species is involved in disease outbreaks. The European MediLabSecure project designed an identification (ID) exercise available to any willing participant with the aim of assessing and improving knowledge in mosquito taxonomy. The exercise was based on high-definition photomicrographs of mosquitoes (26 adult females and 12 larvae) collected from the western Palaearctic. Sixty-five responses from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East were usable. The study demonstrated that the responders were better at identifying females (82% correct responses) than larvae (63%). When the responders reported that they were sure of the accuracy of their ID, the success rate of ID increased (92% for females and 88% for larvae). The top three tools used for ID were MosKeyTool (72% of responders), the ID key following Becker et al. [2010. Mosquitoes and their control, 2nd edn. Berlin: Springer] (38%), and the CD-ROM of Schaffner et al. [2001. Les moustiques d’Europe: logiciel d’identification et d’enseignement – The mosquitoes of Europe: an identification and training programme. Montpellier: IRD; EID] (32%), while other tools were used by less than 10% of responders. Responders reporting the identification of mosquitoes using the MosKeyTool were significantly better (80% correct responses) than non-MosKeyTool users (69%). Most responders (63%) used more than one ID tool. The feedback from responders in this study was positive, with the exercise being perceived as halfway between educational training and a fun quiz. It raised the importance of further expanding training in mosquito ID for better preparedness of mosquito surveillance and control programmes.

A novel mosquito species identification method based on PCR and capillary electrophoresis

“…The use of additional equipment and the dissection of internal structures are also sometimes mandatory to distinguish between morphologically close species, as for Culex mosquitoes, in which meticulous dissection of male genitalia is required [20,21] . Moreover, even with properly trained and experienced professionals the task frequently remains a challenge, misidentifications are common and results for later processed samples cannot be checked afterward in case of doubt [22] .…”

Using capillary electrophoresis to identify Anopheline species in routine sampling sites

“…Moreover, even with properly trained and experienced professionals the task frequently remains a challenge, misidentifications are common (Rahola et al, 2022) and results cannot be double checked in case of doubt once samples have been processed in a destructive treatment. Finally, it requires physical manipulations that are not always compatible with experiments requiring fast sampling of specimens on the field, for instance, for OMIC analyses.…”

“…The use of additional equipment and the dissection of internal structures are also sometimes necessary to distinguish between morphologically close species, as for Culex mosquitoes, in which meticulous dissection of male genitalia is required (de Sá et al., 2020 ; Sallum & Forattini, 1996 ). Moreover, even with properly trained and experienced professionals the task frequently remains a challenge, misidentifications are common (Rahola et al., 2022 ) and results cannot be double checked in case of doubt once samples have been processed in a destructive treatment. Finally, it requires physical manipulations that are not always compatible with experiments requiring fast sampling of specimens on the field, for instance, for OMIC analyses.…”