What is significant about the Culex species?
Culex species are the most widespread mosquito species across the world [1]. They are known to be highly opportunistic feeding on both humans and animals, a behaviour which increases their potential to transmit zoonotic diseases and makes them important threat to public health [2].
What is the biological significance of Culex mosquito?
Culex is 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.
Is Culex a male?
Larval Culex annulirostris. This species possesses two characterisitic spots on the dorsal surface of the abdomen, which can be easily seen in the larvae on the right. Pupa of Culex annulirostris. The developing adult can be readily identified as a male through the pupal skin, by the appearance of the long antennae.
What are characteristics of mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes have thin, long bodies and three pairs of extremely long legs. They have scales along the veins of their wings and long beak-like, sharp sucking mouth parts called a proboscis. These two features distinguish mosquitoes from other flies. Mosquitoes also have feathery or hairy antennae.
How do you identify a Culex mosquito?
They are black and have white patches. Culex and Anopheles are yellow-ish, but you can identify them by observing their resting position. Anopheles mosquitoes have a ~45 degree angle, while Culex stay parallel to the surface. Microscopically, look for antena morphology.
Does Culex mosquito cause malaria?
Human malaria is known to be transmitted strictly by anopheline mosquitoes. Culicine mosquitoes such as Aedes spp. and Culex spp. are important vectors of other human pathogens including viruses and filarial worms, but have never been observed to transmit mammalian malarias.
What do Culex mosquitoes eat?
- Culex pipiens, commonly referred to as the common house mosquito, is a species of mosquito.
- Culex pipiens’ diet typically consists of vertebrate blood, as they consume human blood, but prefer bird blood of species that are nearly linked to human interaction, such as doves and pigeons.
Where are Culex mosquitoes found?
Culex mosquitoes breed in various types of stagnant water. Preferred oviposition habitats such as rainwater barrels, catch basins, storm drains, and septic tanks are rich in organic material. Eggs are laid in raft-shaped batches on the water surface.
Does Culex mosquito cause dengue?
The dengue virus can also be transmitted from an infected individual to a healthy person through infected blood products or organ donation. > Culex:-Filariasis which is caused by the Wuchereria bancrofti and W. malayi usually spreads by the bite of Culex mosquitoes.
Where do Culex mosquitoes live?
stagnant water
Culex mosquitoes breed in various types of stagnant water. Preferred oviposition habitats such as rainwater barrels, catch basins, storm drains, and septic tanks are rich in organic material. Eggs are laid in raft-shaped batches on the water surface.
Does Culex cause elephantiasis?
Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis is a mosquito-borne disease. The major vector of elephantiasis is Culex mosquito but Anopheles and Aedes mosquitos are also known to transmit elephantiasis.
Which mosquito is responsible for elephantiasis?
A wide range of mosquitoes can transmit the parasite, depending on the geographic area. In Africa, the most common vector is Anopheles and in the Americas, it is Culex quinquefasciatus. Aedes and Mansonia can transmit the infection in the Pacific and in Asia.
Where do Culex mosquitoes like to live in the wild?
Culex mosquitoes don’t fly long distances but have been known to fly up to 2 miles (3.2 km). Some Culex mosquitoes prefer to live near and bite birds. They bite people when other animals are not nearby.
How are Culex mosquitoes different from Anopheles mosquitoes?
Culex mosquitoes hold their bodies parallel to the surface that they’re standing on, unlike Anopheles mosquitoes, which stand at a 45º angle to the surface. The bodies of Culex mosquitoes are uniform in color and lack many of the colorful stripes and spots of other genera.
What are the symptoms of a Culex mosquito bite?
Culex mosquitoes are known for causing itchy, red spots on your body from their bite. There are a few things you can do to help relieve the symptoms of a mosquito bite: If you experience headaches, fever or body aches, be sure to contact a medical professional immediately.
How long does it take for a Culex mosquito to lay an egg?
Adult female mosquitoes bite people and animals. Mosquitoes need blood to produce eggs. After blood feeding, female mosquitoes look for water sources to lay eggs. Several days pass between feeding and looking for a place to lay eggs. Culex mosquitoes don’t fly long distances but have been known to fly up to 2 miles (3.2 km).