Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, several surveillance measures have been implemented in African cities, including the continuous collection and analysis of epidemiological data to identify suspected or confirmed cases. Rural regions, where over half of Africa’s population resides, often face a scarcity of quality health care infrastructure and diagnostic services, hindering effective disease surveillance and potentially accelerating disease transmission. Our study aimed to assess COVID-19 seroprevalence and spread in rural Burkina Faso using an innovative noninvasive sampling method based on naturally blood-feeding mosquitoes as a proxy for human sampling. This cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2021 in eleven rural localities located along the RN1 road in Burkina Faso, including six villages near Bobo-Dioulasso (Bereba, Bombi, Dimikuy, Intiedougou, Koumbia, and Nahirindon) and five villages near Ouagadougou (Ouezindougou, Saria, Sissene, Tampelga, and Tathyou). Samples consisted of 690 blood-fed mosquitoes collected by aspiration from 299 human dwellings. The predominant vector species were Anopheles funestus and Anopheles gambiae. ELISA tests were performed to detect human anti-spike protein and anti-RBD domain antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence detected in mosquitoes was 31.16% (215/690). Seroprevalence was higher in rural areas near Bobo-Dioulasso, reaching 35.14% (130/370), compared with 26.56% (85/320) in areas near Ouagadougou. In addition to providing evidence of SARS-CoV-2 circulation during an active phase of the pandemic, this study evaluated the feasibility of using naturally fed mosquitoes as a complementary surveillance tool for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in rural Burkina Faso. However, due to missing data on the time each mosquito took the blood meal, its source, and the proportion of mosquitoes feeding on the same individual hosts, this information serves as a crude minimum infection rate in these populations and additional sampling, and assays are needed to accurately extend these results to determine exact seroprevalence in these communities.

Despite extensive efforts to understand the population biology and ecology of the African malaria mosquitoes questions regarding their movement pattern, survival, and population size persist, reflecting methodological limitations. Site fidelity, in which mosquitoes return to feeding sites, resting sites, or oviposition sites remain debated. Mark release recapture (MRR) studies are vital to address such questions. Using locality- and date-specific DNA tags in fluorescent spray, we carried out a continuous MRR in a Malian village from September to December 2019 with three days interval between capture and release across seven zones. A total of 12,937 Anopheles gambiae s.l. (7,455 females) were captured during 35 indoor collections. Handling related mortality was 3.4%., A. coluzzii predominated (89.7%), followed by A. gambiae (9.4%), and A. arabiensis (0.9%). Overall recapture rate was 1.05% (N=129). Contrary to the site-fidelity hypothesis, the distribution of recaptured mosquitoes across zones (regardless of their zone of release) was similar to the distribution of the captured mosquitoes (r=0.97, P<0.001), with 70% recaptured in a different zone. There was no difference in distance moved between sexes, but males average distance increased over time since release, whereas females' distance remained unchanged. Simulated movements (across released points), with equal probability to reach any of the village houses predicted actual distance moved by mosquitoes. The regression of observed distance from each zone over predicted had a slope of 1 (r2=94%, P=0.006), suggesting that the layout of the capture area greatly affected the results. The average days post release (minimum age of wild captured mosquitoes) for recaptures was 6.4 d with the longest being 30 d. No seasonal and sex related difference in minimum age were detected. The corrected probability of daily survival (PDS) was 94% and the daily increase in sporozoite rate was 4.9%. Limiting the recapture duration period showed that PDS increased with recapture duration from 74% to 86% (12 to 30 d, uncorrected). Thus, larger recapture area and longer recapture duration are needed to obtain accurate estimates of movement range and of daily survival.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue threaten billions of people and cause the death of hundreds of thousands annually. Recent studies have revealed that many mosquito species regularly engage in high-altitude wind-borne migration, but its epidemiological significance remains unclear. The hypothesis that high-flying mosquitoes spread pathogens over long distances has not been directly tested. Here, we report that high-flying mosquitoes are commonly infected with arboviruses, protozoans, and helminths and provide a insights into this pathogen-vector aerial network. A total of 1,017 female mosquitoes intercepted on nets suspended from helium balloons at 120 to 290 m above ground over Mali and Ghana were screened for infection with arboviruses, Haemosporida, and filariae. The mosquitoes collected at altitude comprised 61 species, across 10 genera, dominated by Culex, Aedes, and Anopheles. Infection and infectiousness (capacity to transmit a pathogen to another host inferred based on disseminated infection) rates of migrant mosquitoes were 7.2% and 4.4% with Plasmodium spp., 1.6% and 0.6% with filariae, and 3.5% and 1.1% with flaviviruses, respectively. Twenty-one mosquito-borne pathogens were identified, including Dengue, West Nile, and M'Poko viruses, 15 avian Plasmodium species including Plasmodium matutinum, and three filariids, including Pelecitus sp. Confirmed head-thorax (disseminated) infections of multiple pathogens in Culex perexiguus, Mansonia uniformis, and Anopheles squamosus reveal that pathogens carried by high-altitude wind-borne mosquitoes are capable of infecting hosts far from their departure location. This high-altitude traffic of sylvatic pathogens (circulating in wild animals) may be key to their maintenance among enzootic foci as well as initiating outbreaks at distant locations.

Prior assessment of the culicidea fauna is necessary for the implementation of effective vector control strategies. The aim of this study was to assess malaria transmission parameters while providing basic entomological data for the Kati health district. A longitudinal cross-sectional study with biweekly collections was conducted from September to December 2022 in Banambani, a rural village of Kati district. Residual wild fauna was collected inside huts (40 huts) between 08 and 12 in the morning. A mouth aspirator was used to collect the mosquitoes. A total of 547 collected female mosquitoes were morphologically identified and molecularly to determined sub species of Anopheles gambiae s.l. by PCR. Sporozoite infections were determined by ELISA-CSP and blood meal ELISA. The results showed that the highest infections were observed in November, with an average infection rate of 1.8%. The highest entomological inoculation rate (0.48 pi/h/month) was observed in October, with an average of 0.30 infectious bites per man per month from September to December 2022. An. gambiae s.l. was the main vector in the study area. An. coluzzii was the main vector, and An. arabiensis was a minor vector.

Invasive insects threaten ecosystem stability, public health, and food security. Documenting newly invasive species and understanding how they reach into new territories, establish populations, and interact with other species remain vitally important. Here, we report on the invasion of the South American leafhopper, Curtara insularis into Africa, where it has established populations in Ghana, encroaching inland at least 350 km off the coast. Importantly, 80% of the specimens collected were intercepted between 160 and 190 m above ground. Further, the fraction of this species among all insects collected was also higher at altitude, demonstrating its propensity to engage in high-altitude windborne dispersal. Its aerial densities at altitude translate into millions of migrants/km over a year, representing massive propagule pressure. Given the predominant south-westerly winds, these sightings suggest an introduction of C. insularis into at least one of the Gulf of Guinea ports. To assess the contribution of windborne dispersal to its spread in a new territory, we examine records of C. insularis range-expansion in the USA. Reported first in 2004 from central Florida, it reached north Florida (Panhandle) by 2008–2011 and subsequently spread across the southeastern and south-central US. Its expansion fits a “diffusion-like” process with 200—300 km long “annual displacement steps”—a pattern consistent with autonomous dispersal rather than vehicular transport. Most “steps” are consistent with common wind trajectories from the nearest documented population, assuming 2—8 hours of wind-assisted flight at altitude. Curtara insularis has been intercepted at US ports and on trucks. Thus, it uses multiple dispersal modalities, yet its rapid overland spread is better explained by its massive propagule pressure linked with its high-altitude windborne dispersal. We propose that high-altitude windborne dispersal is common yet under-appreciated in invasive insect species.

Recent studies have revealed that many mosquito species regularly engage in high-altitude windborne migration, but its epidemiological significance was debated. The hypothesis that high-altitude mosquitoes spread pathogens over large distances has not been directly tested. Here, we report for the first time that high-altitude windborne mosquitoes are commonly infected with arboviruses, protozoans, and helminths affecting vertebrates and humans, and provide the first description of this pathogen-vector aerial network. A total of 1,017 female mosquitoes (81.4%, N=1,249) intercepted on nets suspended from helium balloons at altitudes of 120-290 m above ground over Mali and Ghana were screened for infection with arboviruses, plasmodia, and filariae, using pan-genus qPCR analyses followed by sequencing of positive samples. The mosquito fauna collected at altitude comprised 61 species, across 9 genera, dominated by Culex, Aedes, and Anopheles. Infection and infectiousness rates of high-altitude migrant mosquitoes were 7.2% and 4.4% with plasmodia, 1.6% and 0.6% with filariae, 3.5% and 1.1% with flaviviruses, respectively. Nineteen mosquito-borne pathogens were identified, including three arboviruses: dengue, West Nile and M'Poko viruses, 13 putative plasmodia species including Plasmodium matutinum and P. relictum, three filariids, including Pelecitus spp., 27 insect-specific viruses and 5 non-mosquito-borne pathogens (e.g., Trypanosoma theileri). Confirmed head-thorax (disseminated) infections of multiple pathogens in multiple mosquito species, eg., Culex perexiguus, Coquilletidia metallica, Mansonia uniformis, and Anopheles squamosus provides evidence that pathogens carried by high-altitude windborne mosquitoes are infectious and likely capable of infecting naïve hosts far from their starting location. This traffic of sylvatic pathogens may be key to their maintenance among foci as well as initiating outbreaks away from them.

BackgroundThe spread of SARS-CoV-2 cannot be well monitored and understood in areas without capacity for effective disease surveillance. Countries with a young population will have disproportionately large numbers of asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic infections, further hindering detection of infection. Sero-surveillance on a country-wide scale by trained medical professionals may be limited in a resource-limited setting such as Mali. Novel ways of broadly sampling the human population in a non-invasive method would allow for large-scale surveillance at a reduced cost.ApproachHere we evaluate the collection of naturally blood-fed mosquitoes to test for human anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the laboratory and at five field locations in Mali.ResultsImmunoglobulin-G antibodies to multiple SARS-CoV-2 antigens were readily detected in mosquito bloodmeals by bead-based immunoassay through at least 10 h after feeding [mean sensitivity of 0.92 (95% CI 0.78–1) and mean specificity of 0.98 (95% CI 0.88–1)], indicating that most blood-fed mosquitoes collected indoors during early morning hours (and likely to have fed the previous night) are viable samples for analysis. We found that reactivity to four SARS-CoV-2 antigens rose during the pandemic from pre-pandemic levels. The crude seropositivity of blood sampled via mosquitoes was 6.3% in October and November 2020 across all sites, and increased to 25.1% overall by February 2021, with the most urban site reaching 46.7%, consistent with independent venous blood-based sero-surveillance estimates.ConclusionsWe have demonstrated that using mosquito bloodmeals, country-wide sero-surveillance of human diseases (both vector-borne and non-vector-borne) is possible in areas where human-biting mosquitoes are common, offering an informative, cost-effective, and non-invasive sampling option.

Introduction: Post-intubation tracheal stenosis (STPI) is a complication of ventilatory assistance by intubation and/or tracheotomy. Her frequency is estimated between 10% to 20%. The treatment of choice remains surgery. It is based on tracheal resection-anastomosis which guarantees satisfactory and reliable long-term results. Objectives: To determine the frequency of post-intubation tracheal stenosis, to specify the diagnostic and therapeutic methods, to determine the complications and the evolution. Material and methods: This was a study carried out in the ENT and head and neck surgery department of the University Hospital Center Gabriel TOURE. Our study focused on two (02) cases of post-intubation tracheal stenosis (STPI) collected during a period of 1 year (January 2021 to December 2021). Results: They are all acquired, secondary to an intubation. The two (02) cases benefited from a tracheal anastomosis resection, the indications of which were specified and the results and complications evaluated. Conclusion: Our results show that resection anastomosis remains the reference treatment for STPI.

: Objective: The purpose of our work was to review through four observations the mechanisms of injury, the main signs calling for classification in the management of blunt external trauma to the larynx in a hospital of last resort in Mali. Observations: We reported a series of four cases of blunt external trauma to the larynx, all of which occurred in the context of a public road accident (AVP) with reception of the shock at the level of the anterior part of the neck. Dysphonia was the most constant sign, it was associated with dyspnea. All our patients had benefited from a Nasofibroscopy or a direct laryngoscopy and a pharyngolaryngeal computed tomography allowing them to be classified according to the classification of Schaefer and Fuhmann. A patient with arytenoid dislocation underwent endoscopic reduction. Exploratory cervicotomy was performed in one patient. Conclusion: Adequate management of external trauma to the larynx requires a structured, rapid and precise diagnostic and therapeutic approach. This constitutes a challenge in our context where the mobilization of the patient and the diagnostic means (nasofibroscopy or a direct laryngoscopy, pharyngolaryngeal computed tomography) in the absence of third-party payment are part of a course of overcoming obstacles.

Background: This study aims to study the epidemiological and therapeutic aspects of tympanic retraction pockets in the ENT-CCF department of the CHU GT. Method: This was a descriptive prospective study. Results: A total of 9400 patients consulted during the study period. A retraction pocket was diagnosed in 70 patients, i.e., 0.74% of all consultations. The most represented age group was that of [25-39 years]. The average age was 45.71 years. The extremes of ages were 10 years and 81 years. The female gender was the most represented, i.e., 60% with a sex ratio꞊0.67. CT of the petrous bone was performed in two patients. Medical treatment based on systemic corticosteroids and nasal decongestant was initiated in all our patients associated with quarterly monitoring for stage I charachon. The placement of a tympanostomy tube was performed in 8 patients classified (stage II of charachon). Cartilaginous tympanoplasty was performed in one patient, antroatticotomy associated with reinforcement tympanoplasty was performed in one patient (1.43%). Conclusions: The pockets of tympanic retraction constitute a particular nosological entity which deserves rigorous monitoring. The ENT surgeon will be faced with two major challenges: the erosion of the ossicular chain and their potential risk of progression towards cholesteatoma. The diversity of therapeutic options represents an issue that makes this entity a hot topic.

STEM PhDs increasingly contribute to commercial science, such as patenting. We analyze faculty’s role in training STEM PhD students as new inventors on patents at leading research universities, emphasizing the drivers of gender differences. We ...STEM PhDs are a critical source of human capital in the economy, contributing to commercial as well as academic science. We examine whether STEM PhD students become new inventors (file their first patent) during their doctoral training at the top 25 U.S. ...

Recent studies have reported Anopheles mosquitoes captured at high-altitude (40–290 m above ground) in the Sahel. Here, we describe this migration modality across genera and species of African Culicidae and examine its implications for disease transmission and control. As well as Anopheles , six other genera— Culex, Aedes, Mansonia, Mimomyia, Lutzia , and Eretmapodites comprised 90% of the 2,340 mosquitoes captured at altitude. Of the 50 molecularly confirmed species ( N = 2,107), 33 species represented by multiple specimens were conservatively considered high-altitude windborne migrants, suggesting it is a common migration modality in mosquitoes (31–47% of the known species in Mali), and especially in Culex (45−59%). Overall species abundance varied between 2 and 710 specimens/species (in Ae. vittatus and Cx. perexiguus , respectively). At altitude, females outnumbered males 6:1, and 93% of the females have taken at least one blood meal on a vertebrate host prior to their departure. Most taxa were more common at higher sampling altitudes, indicating that total abundance and diversity are underestimated. High-altitude flight activity was concentrated between June and November coinciding with availability of surface waters and peak disease transmission by mosquitoes. These hallmarks of windborne mosquito migration bolster their role as carriers of mosquito-borne pathogens (MBPs). Screening 921 mosquitoes using pan- Plasmodium assays revealed that thoracic infection rate in these high-altitude migrants was 2.4%, providing a proof of concept that vertebrate pathogens are transported by windborne mosquitoes at altitude. Fourteen of the 33 windborne mosquito species had been reported as vectors to 25 MBPs in West Africa, which represent 32% of the MBPs known in that region and include those that inflict the heaviest burden on human and animal health, such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue, and Rift Valley fever. We highlight five arboviruses that are most likely affected by windborne mosquitoes in West Africa: Rift Valley fever, O'nyong'nyong, Ngari, Pangola, and Ndumu. We conclude that the study of windborne spread of diseases by migrating insects and the development of surveillance to map the sources, routes, and destinations of vectors and pathogens is key to understand, predict, and mitigate existing and new threats of public health.

Data suggest that the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles coluzzii persists during the dry season in the Sahel through a dormancy mechanism known as aestivation; however, the contribution of aestivation compared with alternative strategies such as migration is unknown. Here we marked larval Anopheles mosquitoes in two Sahelian villages in Mali using deuterium ( 2 H) to assess the contribution of aestivation to persistence of mosquitoes through the seven-month dry season. After an initial enrichment period, 33% of An. coluzzii mosquitoes were strongly marked. Seven months following enrichment, multiple analysis methods supported the ongoing presence of marked mosquitoes, compatible with the prediction that the fraction of marked mosquitoes should remain stable throughout the dry season if local aestivation is occurring. The results suggest that aestivation is a major persistence mechanism of An. coluzzii in the Sahel, contributing at least 20% of the adults at the onset of rains. This persistence strategy could influence mosquito control and malaria elimination campaigns.

Mosquitoes are potentially harmful and vectors of pathogens. They compromise the rest and well-being of humans and animals. The main goal of this study is to determine the composition of mosquitoes responsible of human biting at the Faculty of Sciences and Technics of Bamako-Mali. Longitudinal monitoring with monthly cross-sectional visit was carried out from September to December 2019, in order to collect the endophilic and endophagic mosquitoes. The spray-catch was used as a collection methodin 21 rooms selected randomly at the FST. Mosquitoes were identified morphologically andthen by PCR. ELISA-CSP test was used for Plasmodium infection index and the ELISA blood-meal test was to determine mosquitoes blood origin. In total, 802 mosquitoes were collected: 794Culex and 8Anopheles. There were 200 males and 602 females. Female mosquitoes were separated by gonotrophic stages: 231 unfed, 223 fed, 80 semi-gravid and 68 gravid. Up to 34% of Culex and 67% of Anopheles had a preference for human blood, but no female tested positive for Plasmodium infection. This result would be due to the small number of Anopheles captured. An. coluzzii is the only Anopheles species collected.This study shows that mosquitoes are linked to serious problems of nuisance and risk of pathogens transmission in the university. They highly prefer to feed on human host.

Introduction: Les Arthropodes sont vecteurs de nombreuses maladies chez les hommes, les animaux et les plantes. Cest pourquoi lidentification des vecteurs devient necessaire afin de mener une lutte a travers des programmes nationaux de lutte. Methodes: Cette etude a ete conduite dans trois differentes zones eco-climatiques du Mali afin de voir la variation saisonniere des Arthropodes dinteret medical, veterinaire et Agricole au Mali. La collecte des arthropodes a ete faite a laide de deux types de piege (Piege demergence et piege en T) dans les villages de Bia, de Kenieroba et de Thierola. Les identifications ont ete faites a la loupe pour les Arthropodes, et par PCR pour les moustiques. Limportance des Arthropodes collectes a ete evaluee a travers leur dominance et leur frequence en fonction des zones et des saisons. Resultats: Letude des arthropodes des trois zones a permis davoir un apercu de lensemble de variations qualitatives et quantitatives des differents Arthropodes. Un total de 20 especes dArthropodes appartenant a trois classes a ete identifie (Arachnides, Insectes Myriapodes), 13 ordres (Araneides, Coleopteres, Dermapteres, Dictyopteres, Dipteres, Hemipteres, Hymenopteres, Lepidopteres, Nevropteres, Odonates, Orthopteres, Plecopteres, Trichopteres). Les Dipteres sont mieux representes a Bia et a Thierola et les Coleopteres frequents a Kenieroba. Conclusion: Il ressort de cette etude que les Arthropodes etaient plus frequents pendant la saison des pluies sur les sites. Les Arthropodes dinteret agricole constituaient le groupe dominant sur chacun des sites, suivi de ceux dinteret medical.

ABSTRACTData suggests the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii persists in the Sahel by dry-season aestivation though evidence is scant. We have marked Anopheles mosquitoes using deuterium (2H) to assess the contribution of aestivation to persistence of mosquitoes through the seven-month dry season. If local aestivation is the only way A. coluzzii persists, the frequency of marked mosquitoes should remain stable throughout, whereas finding no marked mosquitoes would be evidence against aestivation. Larval sites were spiked with 2H at the end of the 2017 wet season in two Sahelian villages in Mali. We monitored 2H-enriched populations until the onset of rains. By the end of the enrichment period, 33% of A. coluzzii mosquitoes were clearly marked. Expectedly, 2H levels in marked mosquitoes degraded over time, resulting in a partial overlap of the marked and non-marked 2H distributions. We utilized three methods to estimate the fraction of marked mosquitoes in the population. Seven months after enrichment, 7% of the population had 2H values above the highest pre-enrichment value. An excess of 21% exceeded the 3rd quartile of the pre-enrichment population. A finite mixed population model showed 2.5% represented a subpopulation of marked mosquitoes with elevated 2H, compatible with our predictions. We provide evidence that aestivation is a major persistence mechanism of A. coluzzii in the Sahel, contributing at least 20% of the adults at the onset of rains, suggesting A. coluzzii utilizes multiple persistence strategies enabling its populations rapid buildup, facilitating subsequent malaria resurgence. These may complicate vector control and malaria elimination campaigns.Significance statementHere we estimated the contribution of aestivation to the persistence of mosquitoes through the seven-month long dry season, by marking a known fraction of the adult population through larval site 2H-spiking by the end of the wet season and assessing the change in this fraction through the dry season, until after the onset of the first rain of the subsequent wet season. In a mark-release-recapture study using stable isotopes, we provide compelling evidence that the primary Sahelian malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii aestivates on a population-scale, contributing at least 20% of the adults which reestablish the population of the subsequent wet season. The capacity to use multiple strategies of persistence in time and space might complicate vector control and elimination campaigns.

Recent results of high-altitude windborne mosquito migration raised questions about the viability of these mosquitoes despite ample evidence that many insect species, including other dipterans, have been known to migrate regularly over tens or hundreds of kilometers on high-altitude winds and retain their viability. To address these concerns, we subjected wild Anopheles gambiae s.l. Giles mosquitoes to a high-altitude survival assay, followed by oviposition (egg laying) and blood feeding assays. Despite carrying out the survival assay under exceptionally harsh conditions that probably provide the lowest survival potential following high altitude flight, a high proportion of the mosquitoes survived for 6- and even 11-h assay durations at 120- to 250-m altitudes. Minimal differences in egg laying success were noted between mosquitoes exposed to high altitude survival assay and those kept near the ground. Similarly, minimal differences were found in the female's ability to take an additional bloodmeal after oviposition between these groups. We conclude that similar to other high-altitude migrating insects, mosquitoes are able to withstand extended high-altitude flight and subsequently reproduce and transmit pathogens by blood feeding on new hosts.

Abstract Current mark–release–recapture methodologies are limited in their ability to address complex problems in vector biology, such as studying multiple groups overlapping in space and time. Additionally, limited mark retention, reduced post‐marking survival and the large effort in marking, collection and recapture all complicate effective insect tracking. We have developed and evaluated a marking method using a fluorescent dye (SmartWater®) combined with synthetic DNA tags to informatively and efficiently mark adult mosquitoes using an airbrush pump and nebulizer. Using a handheld UV flashlight, the fluorescent marking enabled quick and simple initial detection of recaptures in a field‐ready and non‐destructive approach that when combined with an extraction‐free PCR on individual mosquito legs provides potentially unlimited marking information. This marking, first tested in the laboratory with Anopheles gambiae s.l. mosquitoes, did not affect survival (median ages 24–28 days, p‐adj > 0.25), oviposition (median eggs/female of 28.8, 32.5, 33.3 for water, green, red dyes, respectively, p‐adj > 0.44) or Plasmodium competence (mean oocysts 5.56–10.6, p‐adj > 0.95). DNA and fluorescence had 100% retention up to 3 weeks (longest time point tested) with high intensity, indicating marks would persist longer. We describe a novel, simple, no/low‐impact and long‐lasting marking method that allows separation of multiple insect subpopulations by combining unlimited length and sequence variation in the synthetic DNA tags. This method can be readily deployed in the field for marking multiple groups of mosquitoes or other insects.

Current mark–release–recapture methodologies are limited in their ability to address complex problems in vector biology, such as studying multiple groups overlapping in space and time. Additionally, limited mark retention, reduced post‐marking survival and the large effort in marking, collection and recapture all complicate effective insect tracking. We have developed and evaluated a marking method using a fluorescent dye (SmartWater ® ) combined with synthetic DNA tags to informatively and efficiently mark adult mosquitoes using an airbrush pump and nebulizer. Using a handheld UV flashlight, the fluorescent marking enabled quick and simple initial detection of recaptures in a field‐ready and non‐destructive approach that when combined with an extraction‐free PCR on individual mosquito legs provides potentially unlimited marking information. This marking, first tested in the laboratory with Anopheles gambiae s.l. mosquitoes, did not affect survival (median ages 24–28 days, p ‐adj > 0.25), oviposition (median eggs/female of 28.8, 32.5, 33.3 for water, green, red dyes, respectively, p ‐adj > 0.44) or Plasmodium competence (mean oocysts 5.56–10.6, p ‐adj > 0.95). DNA and fluorescence had 100% retention up to 3 weeks (longest time point tested) with high intensity, indicating marks would persist longer. We describe a novel, simple, no/low‐impact and long‐lasting marking method that allows separation of multiple insect subpopulations by combining unlimited length and sequence variation in the synthetic DNA tags. This method can be readily deployed in the field for marking multiple groups of mosquitoes or other insects.