Lymphatic filariasis is a vector-borne health problem that has been focally endemic in Egypt for centuries. The chief vectors of transmission are Culicinae species. Control measures in the form of mass drug administration of DEC citrate treatment have been implemented in Nile delta for almost a decade. This study aimed to identify the prevalent mosquito species in endemic areas in Giza and Qual...

BACKGROUND Culex pipiens molestus was first reported in Shanghai in 2010. The population structures and seasonal distributions of Culex pipiens subspecies C. p. molestus, Culex pipiens pallens, and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus are not well known. METHODS From late February to November 2013, we conducted daily field surveillance of mosquitoes at eight sites at two green lands and three resid...

At several locations in south Florida, water impounded by the leaf axils of native or exotic bromeliads was sampled for immature mosquitoes. Culex biscaynensis was the most commonly collected mosquito from exotic bromeliads at study sites in southeastern Miami-Dade County, whereas at nearby sites with native bromeliads, immature Wyeomyia mitchellii were more abundant than immature Culex biscayn...

The transmission of vector-borne pathogens is greatly influenced by the ecology of their vector, which is in turn shaped by genetic ancestry, the environment, and the hosts that are fed on. One group of vectors, the mosquitoes in the Culex pipiens complex, play key roles in the transmission of a range of pathogens including several viruses such as West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis viruses, a...

The population genetics and phylogenetic relationships of Culex mosquitoes inhabiting the Sonoran Desert region of North America were studied using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite molecular markers. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) from mosquitoes collected over a wide geographic area, including the Baja California peninsula, and mainland localiti...

Mosquitoes and other arthropods may transmit medically important pathogens, in particular viruses such as West Nile virus. The presence of suitable hosts and competent vectors for those zoonotic viruses is essential for an enzootic transmission, which is a prerequisite for epidemics. To establish reliable risk projections, it is an urgent need for an exact identification of mosquito species, wh...

A Hermes-based transposable element transformation system incorporating an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) marker was used to produce two transgenic lines of Culex quinquefasciatus (Say). The transformation frequency was approximately 12% and transformation of Culex was shown to be dependent on the presence of Hermes transposase. Injected Culex embryos were treated with four different...

Culex coronator, a mosquito species common to the American tropics, has been recently documented from a number of temperate areas in the USA. Since 2002 specimens have been reported for the first time from Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Here we provide new collection records for Cx. coronator in east-central Alabama. In October 2007, 2 larvae of Cx. coronator were colle...

Two artificial oviposition sites containing aged alfalfa pellet infusion were exposed to natural populations of Culex quinquefasciatus in San Antonio, Texas, for 3 years. Numbers of egg rafts were counted daily and compared to weather data from a nearby station. Egg rafts were generally most numerous in summer months, declining in fall and increasing in spring. Oviposition occurred in winter on...

In order to study the host preference of female mosquitoes, samples were taken fortnightly in Cordoba and Cosquin (Argentina), during October-April of two consecutive years. Four different vertebrates were used in baited-can traps: frogs, chickens, rabbits and turtles. The genus Culex accounted for 92.9% of the specimens collected. Aedes for 7.0% and Psorophora ciliata 0.02%. The highest propor...