The genus Flavivirus includes a number of newly recognized viruses that infect and replicate only within mosquitoes. To determine whether insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) may infect Culiseta (Cs.) melanura mosquitoes, we screened pools of field-collected mosquitoes for virus infection by RT-PCR targeting conserved regions of the NS5 gene. NS5 nucleotide sequences amplified from Cs. melanura ...

1. Most female Culiseta longiareolata (Diptera: Culicidae) avoid ovipositing in pools that contain the predatory backswimmer Notonecta maculata. Such oviposition habitat selection has been suggested to reflect a trade-off between the risk of predation on larvae and potential density-dependent fitness costs. This putative trade-off was examined. In particular, evidence was sought in support of d...

Haematophagous and synanthropic Diptera are responsible for the transmission of several pathogenic agents to humans, domestic and wild animals, causing diverse vector-borne diseases of paramount importance. The presence of these blood-feeding insects is well reported in many areas of the world; however, the distribution in anthropogenic zones has not been studied so far across Spain. In order t...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to obtain new data which would be valuable to develop programs for future planning of mosquito controls in in western Iran. METHODS Larvae and adult collections were carried out from different habitats using standard dipping and animal baited trap methods during May, June and July 2012 in two provinces (Kurdistan and Kermanshah) in the west of Iran. Charac...

BACKGROUND Ecological studies on mosquitoes are very important in vector control programs. There are a few studies about the ecology of mosquitoes in northern Iran. This study was carried out to detect fauna and larval habitat characteristics of mosquitoes. METHODS This study aimed to determine fauna and the ecology of mosquitoes in Neka County, Mazandaran Province, northern Iran from April t...

BACKGROUND This study aimed to identify and determine the larval and adult mosquitoes (Culicidae) fauna in Hamedan County, western Iran. METHODS It was a cross-sectional study which took place in four area of the Hamedan County. Sampling methods for larvae, pupae and adults were dipping, hand catch, night catch and total catch. Larvae and adult mosquitoes collected and were sent to laboratory...