TY - JOUR T1 - Intraspecific competition among larvae of Aedes albopictus in conditions of food abundance and shortage JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2016 A1 - Macchioni, Fabio A1 - Chiavacci, Daniele A1 - Biasci, Alessandro A1 - Prati, Maria Cristina SP - 14 EP - 16 KW - Aedes albopictus KW - food abundance KW - food shortage KW - Intraspecific competition KW - mosquito larvae AB - Abstract: The competition between larvae of Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1987), an invasive mosquito species recently established in Italy, was evaluated in laboratory in conditions of food abundance and shortage. The number of emerging adults, the time of emergence and the size of the adult bodies were recorded and compared. The number of adults that emerge under conditions of food abundance was found to be significantly higher than under food shortage. When food was lacking more males than females emerged and there was no significant difference in their body sizes, while under food abundance females were larger than males. Both males and females with abundant food were on average bigger than under food shortage. There was no difference in the time of adult emergence in the two different food conditions. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association 34: 14-16, 2016 VL - 34 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Rediscovery of Aedes cretinus (Edwards, 1921) (Diptera; Culicidae) in Cyprus, 66 years after the first and unique report. JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2016 A1 - Martinou, Angeliki F A1 - Vaux, Alexander G.C. A1 - Bullivant, Glen A1 - Charilaou, Pantelis A1 - Hadjistyllis, Haris A1 - Shawcross, Kevin A1 - Violaris, Marios A1 - Schaffner, Francis A1 - Medlock, Jolyon M. SP - 10 EP - 13 KW - Aedes KW - Cyprus. KW - distribution KW - Mediterranean basin KW - Mosquito KW - Stegomyia AB - Abstract: Mosquitoes are important vectors of parasitic helminths, protozoan and viral pathogens causing human disease. There has been a growing interest in the establishment and spread of invasive aedine mosquito species but also in understanding native mosquitoes. Following concerns regarding black and white-striped mosquitoes biting aggressively during the day, survey visits were organised by the Joint Services Health Unit on the Kryos river at the village of St. Mavra, Limassol district, Cyprus. Adult mosquitoes collected either during human landing catches in June 2015 or adults that emerged in the laboratory from water collected from tree holes in January 2016, were identified as Aedes (Stegomyia) cretinus. During the same period (June 2015), Ae. cretinus adults were also collected by the Public Health authorities of the Republic of Cyprus from a local residence at Avdellero village, Larnaca district. Aedes cretinus is a species with limited distribution and close resemblance to the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus. Information on mosquito species and their respective geographic distribution is fundamental for the goal of reducing the impact of emerging vector-borne viral zoonoses in Europe and targeting control for vector and nuisance species. Our study highlights the need for educational and raising awareness programmes regarding insects of medical importance as well as the importance of collaboration and networking between the relevant authorities. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association 34: 10-13, 2016 VL - 34 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - First record of Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) (Diptera; Culicidae) from Minorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2016 A1 - Bengoa, Mikel A1 - Delacour-Estrella, Sarah A1 - Barceló, Carlos A1 - Paredes-Esquivel, Claudia A1 - Leza, Mar A1 - Lucientes, Javier A1 - Molina, Ricardo A1 - Miranda, Miguel Ángel SP - 5 EP - 9 KW - Aedes albopictus KW - Balearic Islands KW - entry routes KW - first record KW - invasive mosquito KW - Minorca KW - Spain. AB - Abstract: The Asian tiger mosquito is an invasive species showing a continuous expansion in the Mediterranean basin in general and in Spain in particular. The first detection of Aedes albopictus in mainland Spain was reported in 2004. Eight years later, in 2012, this mosquito species was detected in the Balearic archipelago, specifically on Majorca. In 2014 it was detected on Eivissa, another island from this archipelago. In this paper we report for the first time the presence of Ae. albopictus on the island of Minorca. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association 34: 5-9, 2016 VL - 34 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Laboratory colonisation of Aedes geniculatus JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2016 A1 - Wagner, Stefanie A1 - Mathis, Alexander SP - 1 EP - 4 KW - Aedes geniculatus KW - blood-feeding KW - colony KW - container-breeder KW - pig intestine membrane AB - Aedes geniculatus (Diptera: Culicidae) is a container-breeding mosquito species widespread throughout Europe and adjacent regions. Similar to other container-breeding mosquitoes, this primarily mammophilic species could be a vector for several pathogens of medical or veterinary importance. We here report for the first time a laboratory colonisation of Ae. geniculatus. Eggs and larvae were collected from forest edges in the area around Zürich, Switzerland. The colony could be established by maintaining adults at room temperature in a large cage where mating occurred. Females took blood meals through a pig intestine membrane in a restricted space. After embryo development for 8 – 14 weeks at 10 °C, ‘hatching in installments’ was induced. Our established colony of Ae. geniculatus, now in its sixth generation, facilitates future studies on basic ecology and physiology of this species and its vector capacity traits. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association 34: 1-4, 2016 VL - 34 ER -