Open AccessThe mosquito fauna of the western region of Spain with emphasis on ecological factors and the characterization of Culex pipiens forms
Author(s) -
BravoBarriga Daniel,
Gomes Bruno,
Almeida Antonio P.G.,
SerranoAguilera Francisco J.,
PérezMartín Juan E.,
CaleroBernal Rafael,
Reina David,
Frontera Eva,
Pinto João
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of vector ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.688
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1948-7134
pISSN - 1081-1710
DOI - 10.1111/jvec.12248
Subject(s) - biology , culex pipiens , fauna , ecology , habitat , abundance (ecology) , zoology , larva
This study updates the diversity, distribution, and seasonal trends of mosquitoes in a western region of Spain, assesses ecological determinants of Culex pipiens s.l., and determines form composition of Cx. pipiens s.s. populations. A total of 1,495 mosquitoes of 16 species was collected during 2012–2013, of which Cx. pipiens s.l. and Cx. theileri were the most abundant. Five new records for An. maculipennis s.s., Orthopodomyia pulcripalpis, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) punctor, Cx. europaeus , and Cx. modestus were found for this region. Cx. pipiens density varied across weather and habitat patterns, correlating positively with high temperatures and with a preference for urbanized areas and rural areas within a proximity of ovine farms. Moreover, molecular identification by CQ11FL was performed in 467 Cx. pipiens s.s., detecting both pipiens (66%) and molestus (8.4%) forms coexisting in different habitats (urban, peri‐urban and rural) aboveground with a high degree of hybridization (25.7%). The abundance of Cx. pipiens in urban areas and farms, with the presence of hybrids, may increase their capacity to act as bridge vectors for the transmission of arboviral infections. These data will be helpful for further implementation of entomological programs focused on risk assessment for arboviruses or other mosquito‐borne pathogens.