Evidence of established populations of Anopheles mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) in the Turks and Caicos Islands

This study reports the first detection of a second Anopheles species in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). Anopheles albimanus was previously detected in 2022, the first record of any Anopheles species in TCI. In response to this finding, targeted larval and adult mosquito surveys were conducted across 29 aquatic habitats and 6 trapping locations on the islands of Providenciales, North Caicos, and Middle Caicos in March to April 2024. Using CDC updraft blacklight traps and larval sampling, Anopheles crucians s.l. adults (n = 84) were identified at four sites across Providenciales and North Caicos, including at Whitby Pond and Kew Highway in North Caicos, which accounted for 98% of the adults trapped. Immature An. crucians s.l. were found at a single site along Kew Highway. This is the first record of An. crucians s.l. in TCI, expanding the documented Anopheles diversity to 2 species, and taking the total number of recorded mosquito species in TCI to 12. Findings highlight the limited abundance of larvae during dry conditions, emphasizing the utility of adult trapping for Anopheles surveillance in TCI and the importance of timing larval surveys during the wetter months (June to October). This study provides baseline data for Anopheles species in TCI, demonstrating the effectiveness of blacklight updraft traps. Further research should include monthly surveillance, larval habitat mapping, and targeted control strategies to improve the understanding of Anopheles ecology and inform public health risk assessments for malaria in the region.