Ontogenetic transfer of microplastics in natural populations of malaria mosquitoes in Western Siberia

Abstract The uptake, accumulation, and ontogenetic transfer of microplastics (MPs) in bloodsucking mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles , vectors of helminth and protozoa parasites in humans and animals, were studied under laboratory conditions. In the experiment, 2‐μm‐diameter fluorescent polystyrene spheres were counted in mosquitoes of all stages, from larvae to adults. Larvae from a natural population readily ingested MPs with food, accumulating on average 3.9 × 10 6 particles per larva within 3 days. The concentration of MPs decreased significantly in mosquitoes during their transition from stage to stage. The average number of detected MPs attained 110 particles per pupa and 3.0 particles per adult. MP uptake by mosquitoes did not affect their survival, whereas the rate of metamorphosis in MP‐consuming mosquitoes was slightly higher. Our data confirmed that MPs can be transferred from feeding larvae to non‐feeding pupae and adult flying Anopheles mosquitoes from natural populations in aquatic ecosystems.