Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.20302/NC.2018.27.21
Culex torrentium (Martini), a new species in Croatian mosquito fauna
Enrih Merdić
; Department of Biology, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadriana 8a, 31000, Osijek, Croatia
Martina Kujavec
; Department of Biology, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadriana 8a, 31000, Osijek, Croatia
Marija Kovačević
; Department of Biology, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadriana 8a, 31000, Osijek, Croatia
Martina Žulj
; Department of Biology, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadriana 8a, 31000, Osijek, Croatia
Nataša Graovac
; Department of Biology, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadriana 8a, 31000, Osijek, Croatia
Goran Vignjević
; Department of Biology, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadriana 8a, 31000, Osijek, Croatia
Nataša Turić
; Department of Biology, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadriana 8a, 31000, Osijek, Croatia
Abstract
In research into mosquitoes in the mountain regions of Croatia, a new species of mosquito for Croatian mosquito fauna has been identified. The Culex pipiens complex is represented with four sibling species. Culex torrentium belongs to this complex and morphologically differs from the other species only in the structure of male genitals. The presence of this species is determined based on the male genital structure and confirmed by mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase molecular analysis. Specimens of these species have been found in all three mountain areas covered by this research: Slavonian mountains, Gorski Kotar area and central Velebit Mt. The lowest altitude where we found this species was 159 metres above sea level (m a.s.l.) in Pleternica, and the highest 906 m a.s.l. in Baške Oštarije. At all sites, the species Cx. torrentium was sampled in community with other species, but most frequently together with sibling species of Cx. pipiens (most probably the subspecies Cx. p. pipiens).
Keywords
Culex torrentium; Culex pipiens complex; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
214191
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2018.
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