Culex

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For other uses, see Culex (disambiguation).
Culex
Male Culex sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Culicidae
Genus: Culex
Linnaeus, 1758
Species

C. annulirostris
C. antennatus
C. jenseni
C. pipiens
C. pusillus
C. quinquefasciatus
C. rajah
C. restuans
C. salinarius
C. tarsalis
C. territans
C. theileri
C. tritaeniorhynchus
many more

Diversity
1216 species

Culex is a genus of mosquitoes, and is important in that several species serve as vectors of important diseases, such as West Nile virus, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis and avian malaria.

The adult mosquito can measure from 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in), and morphologically has the three body parts common to insects: head, thorax, and abdomen. As a fly (Diptera), it has one pair of wings.

Scientists at the University of California, Davis and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences have identified nonanal as a compound that attracts Culex mosquitoes.[1][2][3] Nonanal acts synergistically with carbon dioxide.[4]

Etymology

Carl Linnaeus used the Latin term for midge or gnat, culex, as the name of this taxon.[5]

Life cycle

The developmental cycle takes two weeks and is by complete metamorphosis. Eggs are laid singularly or in batches, depending on the species. Eggs will only hatch in the presence of water. During the larval stage, the mosquito lives in water and feeds on organic matter and plants, then develops into a pupa. The pupa is comma-shaped and also lives in water. It does not feed and becomes an adult after one or two days.

  • Anatomy of a Culex larva

  • Anatomy of an Culex adult

Diversity

See also: List of Culex species

The Culex genus is quite diverse, with well over a thousand species. In Panama alone, 88 species were described by 1955.

Culex mosquito larvae
Culex quinquefasciatus, known vector of West Nile virus

Subgenera

  • Acalleomyia
  • Acallyntrum
  • Aedinus
  • Afroculex
  • Allimanta
  • Anoedioporpa
  • Barraudius
  • Belkinomyia
  • Carrollia
  • Culex
  • Culiciomyia
  • Eumelanomyia
  • Kitzmilleria
  • Lasiosiphon
  • Lophoceraomyia
  • Maillotia
  • Melanoconion
  • Micraedes
  • Microculex
  • Neoculex
  • Oculeomyia
  • Phenacomyia
  • Sirivanakarnius
  • Tinolestes

References

  1. ↑ "UC Davis Researchers Identify Dominant Chemical That Attracts Mosquitoes to Humans". University of California, Davis. October 26, 2009. Retrieved 2011-07-06. 
  2. ↑ Syed, Z.; Leal, W. S. (2009). "Acute olfactory response of Culex mosquitoes to a human- and bird-derived attractant". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106 (44): 18803. doi:10.1073/pnas.0906932106. PMC 2767364. PMID 19858490. 
  3. ↑ Hill, Sharon R.; Hansson, Bill S.; Ignell, Rickard (January 15, 2009). "Characterization of Antennal Trichoid Sensilla from Female Southern House Mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say". Chemical Senses (Oxford University Press) 34 (3): 231–252. doi:10.1093/chemse/bjn080. PMID 19153252. 
  4. ↑ "Scientists Identify Key Smell that Attracts Mosquitoes to Humans". U.S. News & World Report. October 28, 2009. Retrieved 2011-07-06. 
  5. ↑ "culex". dictionary.com. Retrieved 2011-07-06. 

External links

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