Rare mosquito species discovered in Sri Lanka

In a landmark achievement for Sri Lankan science, a team of local researchers has identified Culex (Lophoceraomyia) cinctellus, a rare mosquito species, in the country for the very first time.

- BY IFHAM NIZAM

The finding was confirmed through meticulous morphological analysis and molecular DNA testing, cementing its place as a new addition to Sri Lanka’s mosquito fauna.

The research, spearheaded by Dr. R. M. T. B. Tharaka Ranathunge of the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Eastern University, was carried out in collaboration with entomologists from the Medical Research Institute (MRI), Colombo, Wayamba University, and the University of Ruhuna. The breakthrough was formally documented in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine.

“This is a milestone in Sri Lanka’s mosquito research,” said Dr. Ranathunge, the corresponding author of the study.

He told The Island: “Finding this mosquito in Sri Lanka means we need to pay close attention to its ecology and potential role as a disease vector.”

A New Layer of Complexity in Disease Control

Mosquito-borne diseases remain among Sri Lanka’s greatest public health challenges, with dengue, malaria, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, and filariasis still posing significant threats. While Cx. cinctellus is not yet proven to transmit disease in Sri Lanka, its discovery has raised important questions.

In parts of South and Southeast Asia, Culex species within the same subgenus have been linked to the transmission of filarial parasites and arboviruses.

Experts warn that even a seemingly rare or localised mosquito could play an outsized role in disease dynamics, particularly in a rapidly changing environment.