New Phytotelm plant for Ecuador, Ananas comosus L. Merr. (Bromeliaceae) a its Wyeomyia species inhabitant (Diptera, Culicidae)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. Phytotelmata are a botanical group with water-impounding structures formed by non-aquatic plants, such as leaf axils, perforated internodes, stem holes or depressions, rot-holes in tree trunks or branches (tree-holes), flowers, open fruits, among others. These plants offer suitable conditions for aquatic or semi-aquatic animals, in particular arthropods. Immature mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are well represented among the inhabitants of phytotelmata. OBJECTIVE. Carry out a rapid assessment of the biodiversity of mosquitoes present in different land uses in the population and biological reserve of Limoncocha, to assess the vulnerability and risk of transmission of pathogens that cause emerging diseases. METHODS. Immature mosquitoes were collected in different phytotelmata including Ananas comosus leaf axils in a deforested area with small crops nearby of the Limoncocha Biological Reserve. RESULTS. Fourth instar larvae of Wyeomyia (Wyeomyia) medioalbipes Lutz were found in this plant to confirm their presence in the country and to the cultivated pineapples as phytotelmata in Ecuador. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. This is the first report for Ecuador of Ananas comosus as phytotelmata and the associated mosquito species. Additionally, the presence of Wy. medioalpes in the country is confirmed. This information is added in the epidemiological evaluation of vulnerability and risk for the transmission of pathogens with a biogeographical and ecological vision.

Species diversity and spatial distribution of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from La Isla Amazon Park, Napo Province, Ecuador

“…medioalbipes (Wilkerson et al, 2021), but little is known about its medical importance. In Ecuador, the species may be of interest because it was described in Ananas comosus (Navarro et al, 2018), therefore crops can serve as large reservoirs. In fact, Wyeomyia is considered to be underestimated since several pathogens have been recovered from or experimentally passed through species of the genus (Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, 2023).…”

20 Años de Trayectoria del Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis – CIZ

“…eco-epidemiología [41][42][43][44], detección molecular de parásitos [45] y nuevos registros para el Ecuador [46][47][48][49][50][51]. Biotecnología de Microbiomas Ambientales (BIOMAS): la diversidad microbiana en ambientes naturales, modificados y animales son la línea de investigación de esta área, su inicio fue con el proyecto "Ecuadorian Microbiome Project", cuyo objetivo es cuantificar, describir y entender la riqueza microbiana, su relevancia en la salud integral y establecer el potencial biotecnológico de los microorganismos ambientales [52].…”