Culex globocoxitus

Culex globocoxitus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Culicidae
Genus:	Culex
Species:	C. globocoxitus
Binomial name
Culex globocoxitus Dobrotworsky, 1953

Culex globocoxitus is a species of mosquito in the genus Culex that is endemic to Australia. It is a member of the subgenus Culex and the C. pipiens species complex. ^{[1] [2]} It is known to breed in open swamps and brackish water, and has been collected in coastal south-west Western Australia. The species is active throughout the entire year, but peaks between July and November. Females generally do not bite humans, the host is most likely birds. ^{[3] [2]}

This mosquito may crossbreed with other members of the pipens complex, and a globocoxitus × molestus hybrid has been bred in a lab setting. ^[2]

Distribution

Endemic to Australia, Culex globocoxitus occurs in south-western Queensland, New South Wales, southern Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and south-western Western Australia. ^{[1] [2] [4]}

Description

Culex globocoxitus is a medium-sized mosquito. Proboscis is dark above with a paler tip, and about 2.34 mm in length. ^[2] Scutum is a light brown, clothed with dense light brown and cream scales. Abdominal tergites are black with broad basal bands. Sternites are white to cream. The legs are mainly dark but the hindfemora are pale ventrally. Wings are dark as well, 3.0–3.5 mm in length. ^[3]

Reproductive activity is maintained throughout the year, one to two generations are completed during winter. Mating occurs in spaces as small as 3 cubic inches, in flight or while resting, at temperatures above 13 °C. ^[2]

Eggs & larvae

Larvae and eggs are found in swamps and small pools in creek beds. They can tolerate very polluted water, and may be found in drainage pits. During winter, larvae are found in grassy pools alongside Aedes camptorhynchus. Eggs are laid in rafts, elongate-oval shaped. 190–302 eggs arranged in 11–14 rows. ^[2]

The head of C. globocoxitus larvae is yellow, antennae brown. The comb consists of 44–50 scales arranged in four irregular rows. Single saddle hair. Anal papillae are short, between one half and two thirds the length of the saddle. A slender siphon with a slight curve to it. The number of pecten teeth vary between 11 and 15. ^[2]

References

1. "Species Culex (Culex) globocoxitus Dobrotworsky, 1953". Australian Faunal Directory . Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water . Retrieved 17 December 2025.
2. Dobrotworsky, N.V. (1953). "The Culex pipiens group in south-eastern Australia". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 77: 357–360. ISSN   0370-047X. OCLC   1755950 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
3. Liehne, Peter (1991). An Atlas of the Mosquitoes of Western Australia. Health Department of WA. ISBN   0730946355. pp. 226-228.
4. Webb, Cameron E.; Doggett, Stephen L.; Russell, Richard C. (2016). A Guide to Mosquitoes of Australia. Clayton, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. p. 161. ISBN   9780643100305.