Pwani Molecular Form : New mosquito species
A new mosquito species, provisionally named the “Pwani molecular form”, has been discovered in the coastal regions of Tanzania and Kenya.The species belongs to the Anopheles gambiae complex, a group comprising some of the world’s most potent malaria vectors.The Pwani mosquito shows clear genetic divergence from other members of the Anopheles gambiae complex, indicating it could have distinct ecological or behavioural adaptations.Genetic sequencing confirms that this species is geographically restricted to coastal East Africa, especially Tanzania and Kenya.Unlike known malaria vectors in the region, this mosquito lacks the usual genetic markers for insecticide resistance, indicating a unique resistance mechanism or greater susceptibility to existing insecticides.
