AEDEOMYIA SQUAMIPENNIS: A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES RECORD FOR COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, USA.

On November 7, 2023, 3 female specimens of Aedeomyia squamipennis were captured in Collier County, Florida, for the first time during routine adult mosquito surveillance in Collier Seminole State Park. This species was first found in the USA in Miami-Dade County in 2016 and has since expanded into multiple counties throughout South Florida. The presence of Ad. squamipennis has implications for arbovirus transmission as it is a vector for the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus group. The detection of this mosquito species also highlights the importance of a robust and consistent mosquito surveillance program.