01382nas a2200217 4500008004100000245010300041210006900144260001500213300001000228490000700238520074700245653001400992653001001006653001401016653001301030653001901043653001601062653002501078100001801103856004301121 2014 eng d00aInvertebrates found in underground shelters of western Bohemia. I. Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)0 aInvertebrates found in underground shelters of western Bohemia I c19/12/2014 a27-320 v323 a
Mosquitoes found hibernating in underground shelters were studied in western Bohemia, Czech Republic. Species collected included Culiseta alaskaensis, Cs. annulata, Cs. glaphyroptera, Culex spp., and Anopheles maculipennis s.l.. Culex spp. were the most common, followed by Cs. glaphyroptera and Cs. annulata with few records of Cs. alaskaensis and An. maculipennis s.l.. Culex spp. were found in a variety of shelters, An. maculipennis s.l. preferred cellars, and Cs. alaskaensis where they were found, exhibited little preference. Culiseta annulata and Cs. glaphyroptera were found in similar numbers of cellars, caves, and bunkers, but Cs. glaphyroptera were found more commonly in mines than Cs. annulata.
During routine surveillance for invasive mosquitoes in southern Germany, using BG-Sentinel traps that were run continuously for one to two weeks, specimens were often damaged which prevented morphological species identification. We used DNA sequencing of the COI gene for molecular identification of damaged specimens, and observed two individuals from 2013 with aberrant COI-sequences. These two specimens were collected on separate occasions, and represent COI haplotypes that differ from Aedes (Finlaya) geniculatus by 2.0 - 2.4%, and from Aedes (Finlaya) echinus by 4.4 - 5.0%. Further analysis revealed a similarity to an Aedes (Finlaya) specimen from Macedonia, with these three specimens forming a genetic cluster. Our findings are discussed in the context of the three Aedes (Finlaya) species presently reported in Europe, and the potential introduction into Germany by road traffic.