The characteristics of the most troublesome mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) in Poland

Abstract

Twelve of the 47 Polish mosquito species can pose serious health problems to man or at least heavy nuisance. They fly from breeding sites (where huge numbers can be produced) into houses and/or farm buildings transmitting severe human and animal diseases. Problematic ones are: Anopheles messae and An. atroparvus, Ochlerotatus communis, Oc. cataphylla, Oc. punctor, Oc. cantans, Oc. sticticus, Aedes cinereus, Ae. vexans, Coquillettidia richiardii, Culex pipiens and Culiseta annulata. The problems of distribution, phenology under different climatic conditions, habitat requirements and preferences both of larvae and adults, behaviour, fertility and vector competence of all these species are analyzed. Most of the species in the Temperate Zone produce more than one generation during the growing season or at least have several emergences. Only Oc. communis and Oc. cataphylla are early spring univoltine species, although they can breed twice or more during the growing season when there are favourable conditions. Univoltine Oc. cantans, which can develop several times during a season, occurring in the breeding sites often together with multivoltine Oc. punctor. The period of their occurrence is usually much longer than that of Oc. communis and Oc. cataphylla. Flood-water mosquitoes - Oc. sticticus and both Aedes species occur along river valleys and their larvae can breed in different pools situated in a variety of environments. Culex pipiens, especially its form molestus and Culiseta annulata can breed in natural and artificial ponds, even in heavily polluted water. Although mosquitoes are known to be competent vectors of serious human and animal diseases, in Poland they are considered to cause nuisance only. Despite the fact that malaria was eradicated in Poland in 1960-s, at least two Polish anopheline species can still transmit the human malarial parasite very effectively. The remaining species (except for only one) described in the paper can transmit several arboviruses, while several species are vectors of filariosis (Dirofilaria sp.).