Species delineation of Aedes (Neomelaniconian) lineatopennis (Diptera: Culicidae) using integrative morphological and molecular approaches, along with acoustic characterization, suggesting exclusion of Aedes mcintoshi from the mosquito fauna of India.

BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES AEDES: ( Neomelaniconion ) contains two important arbovirus vectors, Ae. lineatopennis and Ae. mcintoshi for transmission of Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, and Bunyaviridae families. Aedes lineatopennis invaded the Oriental and Australasian regions and closely resembles Ae. mcintoshi in morphology is causing confusion and misidentification among researchers. The present study delineates Ae. lineatopennis from Ae. mcintoshi using integrated taxonomic approaches.

METHODS

Morphological features and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene analyses were used to establish species delineation in Ae. lineatopennis. Sound attributes for adult males and females were also generated.

RESULTS

Aedes lineatopennis was confirmed with the morphological features, viz. thoracic broad lateral longitudinal yellow scale stripes, tergite basal pale bands, subcostal white scales, dark and white scales on various veins, and longer vein R2 (1.5x) than vein R2+3. Genetically, this population was closer to the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai in comparison to African populations. Sound fundamental frequency was 598.54±3.1 Hz for males and 429.9±2.8 Hz for females, with four harmonic bands and harmonic convergence at M2+F3 and M3+F4 between males and females.

INTERPRETATION

CONCLUSION

The combined morphological, molecular, and acoustic evidence confirms that the specimens previously identified as Ae. mcintoshi in India is in fact Ae. lineatopennis . Therefore, the study recommends the retraction of Ae. mcintoshi from Indian mosquito records. This study emphasises the need for accurate species identification using integrated approaches to assess proper biodiversity and other studies.