Professor University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, Texas, United States
Abstract: While it has been hypothesized that mosquitoes may play a role in pollination, there have been only a few studies to assess the role of mosquito pollination in the field. We conducted a preliminary study to assess if pollination efforts can be observed in wild mosquito populations by viewing pollen grains on collected mosquitoes. Carbon dioxide baited ABC light traps were set in a university pollination garden to collect mosquitoes that may have recently been visiting the flowering plants. Traps were set over 9 nights, with varying attractants. A total of 279 mosquitoes were collected, sorted, and stored at 4°C. Using a stereomicroscope, an initial survey of collected mosquitoes was used to identify and separate mosquitoes that may have pollen grains on their body. Twenty mosquitoes were separated out due suspected pollen grains on their body. This number was later reduced to ten after a secondary examination. Another 7 mosquitoes were separated from the collection pool because of unusual artifacts identified on their body, which may potentially be mites. These seventeen mosquitoes were then identified to species using a dichotomous key. These mosquitoes were then imaged utilizing a Desktop Scanning Electron Microscope. DEM images were captured of mosquito body parts focusing on the legs, thorax, and head regions. While pollen was initially thought to have been observed on some mosquitoes, SEM images have not revealed any pollen grains yet (scanning is ongoing). We assess the viability of this method for exploring pollination capabilities in mosquitoes. Future surveys are planned to further assess and quantify potential pollination efforts by mosquitoes, ideally focusing on efforts to collect male mosquitoes or utilizing bar-coding to identify pollen grains more accurately. Using these tools, future quantification of pollination efforts may be feasible to better determine the role mosquitoes may play in plant pollination.
