Water mite and <i>Vorticella</i> (Sessilida: Vorticellidae) parasitism in mosquito populations of central Iran: implications for biocontrol

The increasing resistance to insecticides, the limited availability of new insecticides for mosquito control, and the emergence of new disease threats have created an urgent need for alternative tools to manage mosquito vector populations. Mosquito parasites may serve as potential sources for these alternatives. This study aimed to investigate the ectoparasites found on both larval and adult mosquitoes to identify natural biocontrol agents that could help reduce the mosquito population. Mosquitoes were collected in 2019 using dipping and mechanical aspiration methods, human-baited bed net trap, animal-baited bed net trap, and BG-Sentinel trap with CO2 gas. All mosquitoes and their ectoparasites were identified using morphological keys. A total of 1,756 adult mosquitoes and 9,789 mosquito larvae were collected from 3 genera: Anopheles, Culiseta, and Culex. Additionally, 125 water mite larvae were collected and identified as Arrenurus. It was found that 5.5% of adult mosquitoes were infested with this mite. There was a weak but statistically significant relationship between the Anophelinae and Culicinae subfamilies and parasitism by water mites at the P = 0.05 level. Additionally, infestation by Vorticella spp. was observed on the head, thorax, abdomen, and siphon of mosquito larvae. This study represents the first research on the parasitism of water mites and Vorticella spp. on mosquitoes in central Iran. Further detailed studies are needed to enhance our understanding of the biology and ecology of these aquatic organisms that parasitize mosquitoes in Iran, as well as to assess their potential role in mosquito control.