Interactive Identification Key for Female Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Euro-Mediterranean and Black Sea Regions

Abstract

Purpose: In the context of the recent introduction of invasive species, an urgent need for a user-friendly identification key for mosquitoes has resurfaced among entomologists and health care officials. As the MediLabSecure medical entomology network team, our experience has shown that it is essential to have a tool that can be used freely, online and offline, by both specialists and non-specialists. Methods & Materials: 134 mosquito species are included in this tool. These mosquitoes are distributed in 65 countries in Europe, North Africa, the Black Sea area and Middle East. Morphological descriptors for female identification are used to build a comprehensive database. This morphological database was consequently edited using the computer software Xper2, a useful tool to create interactive and easy to use identification keys. Results: This interactive morphological identification key was developed using 57 morphological characters (descriptors): 11 on the head, 15 on the thorax, 9 on wings, 22 on legs and 6 on the abdomen. Geographic distribution is another very useful character where more than one country could be selected. All descriptors have detailed description, along with a picture or an illustration. Priority was to line up the descriptors, considering non-experts will use the tool so characters that are more visible than others come first. As an option there are three different models that can choose the question with the higher discriminant power that leads to a quicker identification. It allows the user to see the descriptors, states, definitions, images and all taxa on the same page. Conclusion: Training sessions organized in the frame of the MediLabSecure Project, with participants from many of the selected countries in this task, have brought to light that a tool to train inexperienced users is a must. This identification key will be available in January 2017. This multi-entry key will allow using descriptors the user can observe. This will help when some body parts are missing on the sample since it's possible to select a group of descriptors. Future plans are to include a key for fourth instar larva and to perform validation tests on entomologists with variable degrees of experience.