Abstract
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 residential areas in downtown Shanghai. Morphological comparison and DV/D ratios (DV/D is an indicator of mosquito taxonomy) were used to identify adult mosquitoes. Results: The distribution curves of the Culex pipiens complex members indicated seasonal fluctuations. The temperature range of 20–25 °C was the most suitable for adult activity. Micro-environmental factors may differentiate the complex population structures. Hybridization between C. p. pallens and C. p. quinquefasciatus was common and neither “DV/D = 0.40” nor “DV/D = 0.50” can distinguish these subspecies and their hybrids. Conclusion: the population structure of the Culex pipiens complex is complex and characterized by significant hybridization. Measures other than DV/D ratios are needed for the discrimination of subspecies. The C. p. molestus invasion might result in the transmission of novel vector-borne diseases in Shanghai.
Highlights
The Culex pipiens complex (Diptera: Culicidae) has been extensively studied but the taxonomic composition of the group remains unclear [1,2]
The typical C. p. pipiens is only found in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and autogenous C. p. molestus was first reported in China in the Beijing underground water system in 1992 [6]
A total of 23,919 adult mosquitoes were captured at the eight sampling sites, and the collections included four mosquito species predominated by the C. pipiens complex (n = 12,334; 51.57% of total); the other three species were Aedes albopictus, Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Anopheles sinensis
Summary
The Culex pipiens complex (Diptera: Culicidae) has been extensively studied but the taxonomic composition of the group remains unclear [1,2]. Pipiens) as well as the autogenous molestus form These latter four members of the Culex pipiens complex have been recorded in China (Figure 1) [4]. Molestus was first reported in China in the Beijing underground water system in 1992 [6]. 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. Results: The distribution curves of the Culex pipiens complex members indicated seasonal fluctuations. Quinquefasciatus was common and neither “DV/D = 0.40” nor “DV/D = 0.50” can distinguish these subspecies and their hybrids. Conclusion: the population structure of the Culex pipiens complex is complex and characterized by significant hybridization. The C. p. molestus invasion might result in the transmission of novel vector-borne diseases in Shanghai
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