TY - JOUR T1 - Three rarely encountered and one new Culiseta species (Diptera: Culicidae) in Germany. JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2013 A1 - Kampen, Helge A1 - Kronefeld, Mandy A1 - Zielke, Dorothee A1 - Werner, Doreen SP - 36 EP - 39 AB -

With few exceptions, systematic large-scale field studies on the mosquito fauna have not been performed in Germany for decades. Thus, up-to-date data on the occurrence and distribution of the indigenous mosquito species are lacking. In particular, there is no information on whether once rare and restrictively occurring species are still present. Here we describe the recent finding of four Culiseta species rarely encountered in Germany: Cs. alaskaensis, Cs. glaphyroptera and Cs. ochroptera, which have always been considered endemic but were seldom found and last reported a long time ago, and Cs. longiareolata, which has recently been found to have established in southern Germany.


 

VL - 31 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - The geographic distribution of mosquito species in Sweden JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2013 A1 - Lundström, Jan O. A1 - Schäfer, Martina L. A1 - Hesson, Jenny C. A1 - Blomgren, Eric A1 - Lindström, Anders A1 - Wahlqvist, Pernilla A1 - Halling, Arne A1 - Hagelin, Anna A1 - Ahlm, Clas A1 - Evander, Magnus A1 - Broman, Tina A1 - Forsman, Mats A1 - Persson Vinnersten, Thomas Z. SP - 21 EP - 35 KW - CDC Light Trap KW - Counter-flow trap KW - Culicidae KW - mosquito distribution KW - mosquito surveillance KW - Sweden AB -

Surveillance of the actual distribution of mosquito species in Northern Europe is fundamental for evaluating risk for emerging pathogens, and for research on potential vectors. The Swedish mosquito fauna composition and geographic distribution, originally described by Professor Christine Dahl in the 1970´s, included 43 species. We have compiled the information published from 1978 to 2012, and our own surveillance data from 2001 to 2013, and compared this with the species list and geographic distribution provided in “Taxonomy and geographic distribution of Swedish Culicidae” by Dahl (1977). New species detected during these 36 years were Culiseta (Culicella) ochroptera (Peus, 1935) published 1984, Aedes (Aedes) rossicus Dolbeskin, Goritzkaja & Mitrofanova, 1930 published 1986, Anopheles (Anopheles) beklemishevi published 1986, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) euedes (Howard, Dyar & Knab, 1912) published 2001, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) nigrinus (Eckstein, 1918) first recorded in 2012, and Anopheles (Anopheles) algeriensis Theobald, 1903, first recorded in 2013. We provide maps with the distribution by province for each species, including historic information up until 1977, and new records from 1978 to 2013, showing the similarities and differences between the old and the new records. Important findings in recent years include the wide distribution of the Sindbis virus enzootic vector Culex (Culex) torrentium Martinii, 1925, and the more limited distribution of the potential West Nile virus vector Culex (Culex) pipiens Linnaeus, 1758. The updated list of mosquito species in Sweden now includes 49 species.

VL - 31 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - First records of the thermophilic mosquito Culiseta longiareolata (Macquart, 1838) in Austria, 2012, and in Slovenia, 2013 JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2013 A1 - Seidel, Bernhard A1 - Nowotny, Norbert A1 - Duh, Darja A1 - Indra, Alexander A1 - Hufnagl, Peter A1 - Allerberger, Franz SP - 17 EP - 20 KW - Austria KW - Culiseta longiareolata KW - first records KW - Slovenia AB -

During a West Nile virus surveillance programme, Culiseta longiareolata (Macquart, 1838) was discovered for the first time in Austria. Two larvae and one female imago were collected from an artificial water storage container in the wine-growing village of Gamlitz (province of Styria) on July 12, 2012 at 450 m.a.s.l., 46°4058,2´N, 15°3151,4´E. Additional specimens of Cs. longiareolata were found on September 8, 2012, when numerous larvae were detected in used car tyres about 160 km westward, in the region of Finkenstein (province of Carinthia). A third site containing larvae of Cs. longiareolata was discovered on October 10, 2012, near Althofen about 60 km northeast of the Finkenstein location. Previously, in May 2012, the latter two sites were negative for Cs. longiareolata. In autumn 2013 Cs. longiareolata was reconfirmed in Carinthia and the first record detected for Slovenia with larvae collected from a rain barrel in a location approximately 6 km north-northeast of the city of Maribor, on September 1, 2013 at 288 m.a.s.l., 46°3959,8´N, 15°3942,2´E. It is proposed that Cs. longiareolata was not passively introduced along a major transportation route, but has either actively invaded from neighbouring Italy and Slovenia into the south of Austria within the last few decades and/or has remained undetected owing to its cryptic occurrence on account of its belated activity at the end of summer and during autumn.

VL - 31 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Rediscovery of Anopheles algeriensis Theob. (Diptera: Culicidae) in Germany after half a century JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2013 A1 - Krüger, Andreas A1 - Tannich, Egbert SP - 14 EP - 16 KW - Anopheles algeriensis KW - Culicidae KW - Germany AB -

Anopheles algeriensis, a mosquito species primarily found in the Mediterranean region and susceptible to Plasmodium spp., is one of seven Anopheles species previously reported from Germany. However, the last record dates back to 1958. Whether it was really absent since then or whether this is just a sign of neglected mosquito studies over several decades is unclear. The present study is part of a nationwide mosquito mapping project launched in 2011. We describe larval dip collections of An. algeriensis in 2013 from the inland salt meadow “Brenner Moor”, located in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany, which represents the most northerly of all German An. algeriensis collection sites known so far. Despite several mosquito mapping projects carried out in Germany over recent years, An. algeriensis has not been detected within the last 55 years. Therefore this species appears to be extremely rare or at least rurally localised. Hence, it remains a very low risk vector in terms of autochthonous malaria transmission in Germany. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association 31: 14-16, 2013

IS - 31 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - A recent record of Ochlerotatus (Rusticoidus) rusticus (Rossi, 1790) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Greece JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2013 A1 - Kioulos, Ilias P SP - 12 EP - 13 KW - Greece KW - mosquito fauna KW - Ochlerotatus rusticus AB -

The presence of Ochlerotatus (Rusticoidus) rusticus (Rossi, 1790) in Greece was first reported by Pantazis (1935) and Shannon (1935). No further records of the species are known. However, two females were found outside the city of Tripoli in Peloponnese, confirming the current presence of the species in Greece. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association 31: 12-13, 2013

IS - 31 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - First detection of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Balearic Islands (Spain) and assessment of its establishment according to the ECDC guidelines JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2013 A1 - Miquel, Margalida A1 - del Río, Ricardo A1 - Borràs, David A1 - Barceló, Carlos A1 - Esquivel, Claudia Paredes A1 - Lucientes, Javier A1 - Miranda, Miguel Ángel SP - 8 EP - 11 KW - Aedes albopictus KW - ECDC guidelines KW - first detection KW - invasive mosquito KW - Majorca KW - Spain KW - tiger mosquito AB -

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus is an invasive mosquito species of major concern to public health because of its vector role in transmission of several pathogens of human and animal health importance. This species was first detected in Europe (Albania) in 1979. Since then, at least eighteen additional European countries have reported its presence. In 2004, this mosquito was detected for the first time in Spain (Catalonia). Here we report, for the first time, the presence and establishment of Ae. albopictus on the island of Majorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). However, the introduction pathway of this species in Majorca has not yet been identified. The prompt surveillance programme implemented according to the guidelines of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) rapidly permitted a determination of the expansion of Ae. albopictus on the island. The information obtained from this study might be useful to plan mosquito control measures avoiding the spread of this vector species to the entire island. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association 31: 8-11, 2013

IS - 31 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - A recent survey of the mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) fauna and seasonal human biting activity in the city of Chisinau, Moldova JF - Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association Y1 - 2013 A1 - Sulesco, Tatiana A1 - Toderas, Lidia A1 - Toderas, Ion SP - 1 EP - 7 KW - anthropophilic mosquitoes KW - Chisinau KW - Culicidae KW - recreational areas KW - seasonal activity AB -

This is the first report on species composition and seasonal human biting activity of mosquitoes in the city of Chisinau, Moldova. In total 3,255 adult mosquitoes were collected in eight recreational areas. Sampling occurred by means of two methods: human landing collection and net-catches from vegetation. Altogether, 22 mosquito species in nine genera were found, representing 55% of the species diversity in Moldova. Seventeen anthropophilic species with different seasonal patterns of biting activity were found in human landing collections. The most frequently captured species was Aedimorphus vexans (N = 1,514; 46.5%) followed by Ochlerotatus annulipes (N = 403; 12.4%), Dahliana geniculata (N = 330; 10.1%), Culex modestus (N = 312; 9.6%), Coquillettidia richiardii (N = 144; 4.4%) and Oc. riparius (N = 117; 3.6%). Eight of the species are the known vectors of West Nile virus in Europe; four of them are the natural vectors of Dirofilaria. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association 31: 1-7, 2013

IS - 31 ER -