Culex restuans

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Culex restuans
Culex restuans mosquito resting on a flowering plant.jpg
An adult male Cx. restuans resting on a flowering plant
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Culicidae
Genus: Culex
Subgenus: Culex
Species:
C. restuans
Binomial name
Culex restuans
Theobald, 1901

Culex restuans is a species of mosquito known to occur in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and the Bahamas. [1] [2] It is a disease vector for St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile virus. [3] In 2013 West Nile Virus positive specimens were collected in Southern California. [4] [5]

Contents

Taxonomy

Culex restuans is a mosquito, falling within the family Culicidae. It is a member of the tribe Culicini and the genus Culex . It is considered part of the Pipiens group and the Restuans species complex. [6]

Description

Adults

Culex restuans is a medium-sized brown mosquito, with adult female wing length ranging from 4 to 4.4mm. [7] It is occasionally called the "white-dotted mosquito", referring to two white dots sometimes found on the dorsal scutum. [8] This, however, is not a reliable character for identification because scales that constitute these spots can fall off and some adult mosquitoes eclose without these spots. [9] Without these distinctive white dots, this species looks very similar to another medically important Culex mosquito, Cx pipiens . [9]

A paper published in 2020 addresses the lack of reliable distinguishing characters between Cx. pipiens and restuans in reputable keys, and identified five characters that reliably distinguished these two species in their data set collected from Minnesota and Wisconsin. [10] The coloration and number of erect scales on the dorsal area of the head, number of setae on the upper thoracic proepisternum, coloration of prepostnotal setae, coloration of setae found on the mid-lobe of the scutellum, and coloration of wing remigial setae were all found to be reliable characters for distinguishing these two species in their data set. [10] More research needs to be done on Cx. pipiens and restuans populations throughout the United States before these characters can confidently be incorporated into a larger taxonomic key. [10]

Larvae

Diagram of Culex restuans larval morphology. Culex restuans larva diagram en.svg
Diagram of Culex restuans larval morphology.

Like other mosquito larvae, Cx restuans larvae are aquatic and swim by wiggling, which is why they are commonly referred to as "wigglers." [11] They are worm-like in appearance, with distinct brush-like mouthparts, a round thorax, abdominal segments with distinct lateral tufts of setae, and a siphon at the end of their abdomen which they use to breathe. [12] Cx restuans larvae can be recognized from other species of Culex from at least three long, individual setae on their siphon that are irregularly placed; siphon setae of other Culex species are found in groups or tufts. [13]

Natural History

Life cycle, habitat, and oviposition behavior

Like other dipterans, Cx. restuans is a holometabolous insect with egg, larval, pupal, and adult life stages. Gravid, blood-fed females lay egg rafts which float in standing water. [14] The quality of water does not matter much; larvae have been found in water that ranges from clean to polluted. [14] They go through four larval instars before pupating and then eclosing into adults; this process can take a minimum of 10 days in water with plenty of organic matter. [14]

Immature Cx. restuans are commonly found in small containers, with one notable example being discarded vehicle tires. [15] These are significant in regards to vector dynamics because of their usual proximity to human habitat and their ability to assist in expansion of mosquito range. [15]

Females have been found to decrease oviposition in containers with preexisting larvae of the same species and are more likely to lay eggs in nutrient-rich water sources, suggesting that females make oviposition-related decisions based on the future competition of their offspring. [16]

Diet

Female Cx. restuans adults opportunistically feed mainly on birds, but will occasionally feed on mammals; this allows them to act as an enzootic vector in the West Nile virus transmission cycle. [17] Whether or not these mosquitoes bite humans is a controversial topic -- some say they bite humans often, but some say they are bird-feeders and rarely bite humans. [7] [14]

The diet of Cx. restuans larvae remains largely unknown, but in the laboratory they are commonly fed on a diet that consists of ingredients like fish food, rabbit pellets, and liver powder. [18]

Control Methods

For the control of medically important mosquito species like Cx. restuans in the United States, synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphates are the most commonly used adulticides; insect growth regulators like methoprene and bacteria such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) and Lysinibacillus sphaericus are commonly used larvicides. [19] [20] [21]

Insecticide resistance in Cx. restuans populations is a prevalent problem facing vector control programs. [20] The Northeast Regional Center for Vector-Borne Disease reports widespread trends of low- and moderate-level insecticide resistance to methoprene in Culex spp. populations in the northeast United States. [20] Instances of moderate and high level resistance to pyrethroids have increased in recent years. [20]

Entomophthoraceae family, fungus Species Erynia conica infects (and kills) mosquitos Aedes aegypti and Culex restuans. Attempts are being made to use it as a biological control for the insect. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mosquito</span> Family of flies

Mosquitoes are approximately 3,600 species of small flies comprising the family Culicidae. The word "mosquito" is Spanish for "little fly". Mosquitoes have a slender segmented body, one pair of wings, one pair of halteres, three pairs of long hair-like legs, and elongated mouthparts.

<i>Aedes albopictus</i> Species of mosquito

Aedes albopictus, from the mosquito (Culicidae) family, also known as the (Asian) tiger mosquito or forest mosquito, is a mosquito native to the tropical and subtropical areas of Southeast Asia. In the past few centuries, however, this species has spread to many countries through the transport of goods and international travel. It is characterized by the white bands on its legs and body.

<i>Aedes aegypti</i> Species of mosquito

Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito, is a mosquito that can spread dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika fever, Mayaro and yellow fever viruses, and other disease agents. The mosquito can be recognized by black and white markings on its legs and a marking in the form of a lyre on the upper surface of its thorax. This mosquito originated in Africa, but is now found in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world.

<i>Culex</i> Genus of mosquitoes

Culex or the typical mosquitos are a genus of mosquitoes, several species of which serve as vectors of one or more important diseases of birds, humans, and other animals. The diseases they vector include arbovirus infections such as West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis, or St. Louis encephalitis, but also filariasis and avian malaria. They occur worldwide except for the extreme northern parts of the temperate zone, and are the most common form of mosquito encountered in some major U.S. cities, such as Los Angeles.

<i>Culex tritaeniorhynchus</i> Species of fly

Culex (Culex) tritaeniorhynchus is a species of mosquito and is the main vector of the disease Japanese encephalitis. This mosquito is a native of northern Asia, and parts of Africa. Females target large animals for blood extraction, including cattle and swine, and are strongly anthropophilic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Underground mosquito</span> Species of fly

The London Underground mosquito is a form of mosquito in the genus Culex. It is found in the London Underground railway system as its name suggests, but has a worldwide distribution and long predates the existence of the London Underground. It was first described as a distinct species from Egyptian specimens by the biologist Peter Forsskål (1732–1763). He named this mosquito Culex molestus due to its voracious biting, but later biologists renamed it Culex pipiens f. molestus because there were no morphological differences between it and Culex pipiens. Notably, this mosquito assaulted Londoners sleeping in the Underground during the Blitz, although similar populations were long known.

<i>Culex pipiens</i> Species of fly

Culex pipiens, commonly referred to as the common house mosquito, is a species of mosquito. House mosquitoes are some of the most common mosquitoes. More specifically, Culex pipiens is considered as the northern house mosquito, as it is the most common mosquito to the northern regions of the US. North of the 39th parallel north in the US, only C. pipiens are present, whereas south of the 36th parallel north, only C. quinquefasciatus are present. Additionally, they can be found in both urban and suburban temperate and tropical regions across the world.

<i>Aedes triseriatus</i> Species of mosquito

Aedes triseriatus is a member of the true fly order. It is called the eastern tree hole mosquito due to its predilection towards breeding in stagnant water that is found in natural holding containers such as tree holes. It is native to the eastern United States and southern Canada and favors hardwood habitats. It has been found as far south as the Florida Keys, as far west as Idaho and Utah, and as far north as Quebec and Ontario. This species has not yet been found in Europe, but it has the potential to spread through international trade. In 2004, it was found in a shipment of tires travelling from Louisiana to France, but it was identified and targeted with insecticides that truncated its spread. It is a known vector of La Crosse encephalitis and canine heartworm disease. In the laboratory, it has been found to vector several other viruses including yellow fever, eastern encephalitis, Venezuelan encephalitis, and western encephalitis. Because of its potential for international spread and its proclivity for transmitting disease, monitoring the distribution of this species is essential.

<i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i> Species of fly

Culex quinquefasciatus, commonly known as the southern house mosquito, is a medium-sized mosquito found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is a vector of Wuchereria bancrofti, avian malaria, and arboviruses including St. Louis encephalitis virus, Western equine encephalitis virus, Zika virus and West Nile virus. It is taxonomically regarded as a member of the Culex pipiens species complex. Its genome was sequenced in 2010, and was shown to have 18,883 protein-coding genes.

Culex modestus is a species of blood-feeding mosquito of the family Culicidae. It has been experimentally demonstrated to be capable of transmitting West Nile virus (WNV), and its habit of feeding aggressively on both birds and humans gives it significant potential for transmission of zoonotic infections from birds to humans. It is believed to be the principle bridge vector of WNV between birds and humans in southern France and is thought to have played a role in WNV transmission in the Danube delta, Caspian and Azov sea deltas, and the Volga region in Russia. It has also been implicated in Tahyna virus and Lednice virus transmission in France and Slovakia, respectively.

<i>Anopheles claviger</i> Species of mosquito

Anopheles claviger is a mosquito species found in Palearctic realm covering Europe, North Africa, northern Arabian Peninsula, and northern Asia. It is responsible for transmitting malaria in some of these regions. The mosquito is made up of a species complex consisting of An. claviger sensu stricto and An. petragnani Del Vecchio. An. petragnani is found only in western Mediterranean region, and is reported to bite only animals; hence, it is not involved in human malaria.

Culex vishnui is a mosquito belonging to the Culicidae family. It is the most common vector (carrier) of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Sarawak.

<i>Aedes koreicus</i> Species of fly

Commonly known as the Korean bush mosquito, Ae. koreicus adults are relatively large with a black and white pattern on their legs and other body parts. Clear longitudinal lines on the dorsal part of the thorax distinguish it from Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. The species bears close morphological, ecological, and genetic similarity to the Asian bush mosquito, Aedes japonicus, but can be physically distinguished by a pale basal band on the hind tarsomere.

<i>Aedes japonicus</i> Species of fly

Aedes japonicus, commonly known as the Asian bush mosquito or the Asian rock pool mosquito, was first described by Theobald in 1901 from Tokyo, Japan. They are competent arbovirus vectors known to transmit the West Nile virus as well as Japanese and St. Louis encephalitis. They are listed as an invasive species by the Global Invasive Species Database.

<i>Culiseta annulata</i> Species of mosquito

Culiseta annulata is a species of mosquito in the family Culicidae. It is found in the Palearctic.

<i>Culex territans</i> Species of fly

Culex territans is a species of mosquito in the family Culicidae.

<i>Anopheles freeborni</i> Species of Mosquito

Anopheles freeborni, commonly known as the western malaria mosquito, is a species of mosquito in the family Culicidae. It is typically found in the western United States and Canada. Adults are brown to black, with yellow-brown hairs and gray-brown stripes on the thorax. Their scaly wings have four dark spots, which are less distinct in the male.

<i>Aedes taeniorhynchus</i> Species of fly

Aedes taeniorhynchus, or the black salt marsh mosquito, is a mosquito in the family Culicidae. It is a carrier for encephalitic viruses including Venezuelan equine encephalitis and can transmit Dirofilaria immitis. It resides in the Americas and is known to bite mammals, reptiles, and birds. Like other mosquitoes, Ae. taeniorhynchus adults survive on a combination diet of blood and sugar, with females generally requiring a blood meal before laying eggs.

<i>Aedes scapularis</i> Species of insect

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<i>Culex torrentium</i> Species of mosquito

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References

  1. ↑ Strickman, D.; Darsie, R. F. Jr. (1988). "The previously undetected presence of Culex restuans (Diptera: Culicidae) in Central america, with notes on identification". Mosquito Systematics. 20 (1): 21–27.
  2. ↑ "Culex restuans Theobald, 1901 | Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (WRBU)". www.wrbu.si.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  3. ↑ "Culex restuans". www.wrbu.org. The Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  4. ↑ Sandhu TS, Williams GW, Haynes BW, Dhillon MS. Population dynamics of blood-fed female mosquitoes and comparative efficacy of resting boxes in collecting them from the northwestern part of Riverside County, California. J Global Infect Dis [serial online] 2013 [cited 2013 Oct 22];5:15-8.
  5. ↑ Sandhu TS, Williams GA, Haynes BW, Dhillon MS. Evaluation of arboviral activity at Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control District, Riverside County, California during 2008. Proc and Papers of the Mosq and Vector Control Assoc of Calif, vol 77, 2009. p. 108-15.
  6. ↑ Harbach, Ralph E. (2011-10-01). "Classification within the cosmopolitan genus Culex (Diptera: Culicidae): The foundation for molecular systematics and phylogenetic research". Acta Tropica. 120 (1): 1–14. doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2011.06.005. ISSN   0001-706X. PMID   21741350.
  7. 1 2 Carpenter, Stanley J.; Casse, Walter J. La (1955). Mosquitoes of North America (north of Mexico). University of California Press.
  8. ↑ "Species Culex restuans - White-dotted Mosquito". bugguide.net. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  9. 1 2 Harrington, Laura C.; Poulson, Rebecca L. (2008-01-01). "Considerations for Accurate Identification of Adult Culex restuans (Diptera: Culicidae) in Field Studies". Journal of Medical Entomology. 45 (1): 1–8. doi:10.1093/jmedent/45.1.1. ISSN   0022-2585. PMID   18283935.
  10. 1 2 3 Ferreira-de-Freitas, Lílian; Thrun, Nicholas B; Tucker, Bradley J; Melidosian, Lauren; Bartholomay, Lyric C (2020-11-01). "An Evaluation of Characters for the Separation of Two Culex Species (Diptera: Culicidae) Based on Material From the Upper Midwest". Journal of Insect Science. 20 (6). doi:10.1093/jisesa/ieaa119. ISSN   1536-2442. PMC   7641446 . PMID   33147340.
  11. ↑ CDC (2022-07-12). "Culex Mosquito Life Cycle | CDC". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  12. ↑ Carpenter, Stanley J.; Casse, Walter J. La (1955). Mosquitoes of North America (north of Mexico). University of California Press.
  13. ↑ Andreadis, T. G.; Thomas, M. C.; Shepard, J. J. (2005). Identification Guide to the Mosquitoes of Connecticut. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Mosquito Biology: Rutgers Center for Vector Biology". vectorbio.rutgers.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  15. 1 2 Yee, Donald A. (2008-07-01). "Tires as Habitats for Mosquitoes: A Review of Studies Within the Eastern United States: Table 1". Journal of Medical Entomology. 45 (4): 581–593. doi:10.1093/jmedent/45.4.581. ISSN   0022-2585.
  16. ↑ Reiskind, Michael H.; Wilson, Mark L. (2004-03-01). "Culex restuans (Diptera: Culicidae) Oviposition Behavior Determined by Larval Habitat Quality and Quantity in Southeastern Michigan". Journal of Medical Entomology. 41 (2): 179–186. doi:10.1603/0022-2585-41.2.179. ISSN   0022-2585.
  17. ↑ Apperson, Charles S.; Harrison, Bruce A.; Unnasch, Thomas R.; Hassan, Hassan K.; Irby, William S.; Savage, Harry M.; Aspen, Stephen E.; Watson, D. Wesley; Rueda, Leopoldo M.; Engber, Barry R.; Nasci, Roger S. (2002-09-01). "Host-Feeding Habits of Culex and Other Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Borough of Queens in New York City, with Characters and Techniques for Identification of Culex Mosquitoes". Journal of Medical Entomology. 39 (5): 777–785. doi:10.1603/0022-2585-39.5.777. ISSN   0022-2585.
  18. ↑ Kimura, Mari (2008). Understanding avian Plasmodium distribution: the role of vector and host (PhD thesis). Cornell University. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  19. ↑ CDC (2023-05-01). "Adulticides | CDC". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  20. 1 2 3 4 Diseases, Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne (2023-10-26). "Pesticide Resistance Monitoring Program". ArcGIS StoryMaps. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  21. ↑ CDC (2020-08-24). "Larvicides | CDC". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  22. ↑ Cuebas-Incle, E. L. (December 1992). "Infection of adult mosquitoes by the entomopathogenic fungus Erynia conica (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae)". J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 8 (4): 367–71. PMID   1474381.
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