Interactions between the imperiled West Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus, and mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA

Researchers have documented the first evidence of direct interactions between mosquitoes and an aquatic mammal, the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), in Everglades National Park. Observations revealed that mosquitoes from three genera—Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex—can locate and land on surface-active manatees, penetrating their epidermis with mouthparts. While it remains unclear if blood meals are successfully taken, the findings suggest a potential pathway for marine mammals to be exposed to mosquito-vectored pathogens, such as arboviruses, through viral inoculation during probing. This discovery raises concerns about emerging health threats to threatened species like the manatee, which could be impacted by diseases typically associated with terrestrial or semi-aquatic hosts.

Reeves, L. E., & Gillett-Kaufman, J. L. (2020). Interactions between the imperiled West Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus, and mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. Scientific Reports, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69942-8