Confirmation of occurrence of Anopheles (Anopheles) veruslanei Vargas in Quintana Roo, Mexico using morphology and DNA barcodes

Abstract

In Mexico, genus Anopheles includes 27 species divided into three subgenera: Anopheles, Kerteszia, and Nyssorhynchus. Some species occur in the Nearctic region (northern Mexico), whereas other species occur in the Neotropical region (south and southeast Mexico) and only a few species occur in both regions. In Quintana Roo State (southeast Mexico) 11 species have been recorded: An. apicimacula, An. atropos, An. bradleyi, An. crucians, An. franciscanus, An. neomaculipalpus, An. pseudopunctipennis, An. punctimacula, An. veruslanei, An. vestitipennis and An. albimanus. However, the occurrence and identity of An. veruslanei has been questioned in recent years, since its description 39 years ago, it has not been reported in recent studies. In October 2015, five females of An. veruslanei were collected and identified. To corroborate their occurrence and identity in Quintana Roo State, we used morphological and molecular evidence that confirms it, and the type material of this species was studied to compare with the specimens of our collections.

Keywords: Anopheles veruslanei; Barcodes; Confirmation; DNA; Mexico.