Submitted by the MVCAC VVBD Committee
Reeves, LE and K. Renfro. Journal of Medical Entomology, Volume 63, Issue 5, October 2026, tjag126, https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjag126
Abstract
The mosquito community of the Madrean Sky Islands of southeastern Arizona is diverse and distinct with several species that are endemic or at their northern distributional limits. We collected mosquitoes across many of southeastern Arizona’s Sky Island mountain ranges. Here, we present new collection records supported by morphological and molecular evidence that indicate the presence of Aedes (Ochlerotatus) amateuri in at least two Sky Islands ranges, the Santa Rita Mountains and the Dragoon Mountains. Aedes amateuri was described in 2019, previously known only from the type locality in Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas, Mexico. These records represent the first detection of Ae. amateuri in the USA, and the northernmost collections of this species. The results of DNA barcoding and comparison of Arizona Ae. amateuri cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences to those available in publicly accessible databases suggest that Ae. amateuri is present in an additional location in Mexico, south to Honduras. Detailed collection records, ecological information, and a discussion of the morphological and molecular identification of Ae. amateuri are presented.
Note: This paper follows the News release submitted earlier. The complete distribution of this species is really unknown and could extend further West. Surveillance efforts along the Colorado River should remain alert for collection of this species, and others reported earlier including Aedes thelcter, Ae. purpureipes and Culex erraticus.