Culex nigripalpus Distribution Expansion: First Record in Virginia, New County Records in North Carolina, and Revised United States Map.

Theobald first described Culex nigripalpus in 1901 from St. Lucia Island of the Lesser Antilles. It is a Neotropical mosquito species that is documented throughout Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the southeastern USA. Reports within the last 3 decades show the species has expanded its range farther into North America and is not only being discovered sporadically but appears to be establishing itself in several states, of which data are underreported and difficult to find. Five female specimens were collected-4 on October 13 and 1 on December 6, 2017-at 3 separate sites in the city of Suffolk, VA-2 in a BG-Sentinel 2® trap, 3 in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention light traps-during routine mosquito surveillance; subsequent collections were made in 2019 and 2020. These findings represent the 1st record of Cx. nigripalpus in the state of Virginia and the most northeastern records in the USA. An updated mosquito species checklist for the state of Virginia is provided. Additionally, this report serves to update the records of North Carolina to 28 total counties reporting Cx. nigripalpus. These new records, along with other reports and published studies, show this species now documented in 201 jurisdictions in 16 states of the USA. As recent literature on this species is scarce, we provide a review of the bionomics, defining morphological characters, and an updated US distribution map.

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Singapore: Updated Checklist and New Records.

Prior to 1965, Singapore was part of the Malaya (now Malaysia) and was usually not mentioned when mosquito records were reported for Malaya. Consequently, many species that occurred in Singapore were not listed in the world mosquito catalog, and the available checklist for Singapore since 1986 is incomplete, with some imprecise species information. In updating this checklist, we examined and verified mosquito specimens collected from Singapore in various depositories, including a thorough review of past taxonomic literature. Here, we report a checklist of 182 mosquito species, 33 new distribution records, and a consolidated status list of vectors for Singapore. As Singapore is a travel hub and hosts one of the busiest container ports in the world, there is a risk of introducing mosquito species and their associated pathogens of human disease to the country. Hence, the distribution records are important to increase our knowledge on mosquito ecology as well as to understand the risk of newly introduced vectors and their associated pathogens.

New County Records Demonstrating a Northern Expansion of Mansonia titillans in South Carolina, USA.

New county records in South Carolina suggest an expansion of the recorded northern distribution of Mansonia titillans in the USA. New location records of Ma. titillans in Beaufort County, as well as new county records in Berkeley, Clarendon, Colleton, and Georgetown counties are reported. Taxonomic notes are presented that provide 100% identification accuracy. Adult Ma. titillans were collected between August and December 2017 from 8 locations in 5 counties in South Carolina. Distribution records for floating water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), the aquatic plants normally associated with immature Ma. titillans, are documented in relation to new records of Ma. titillans adults.

Anopheles prachongae, a new species of the Gigas Complex of subgenus Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) in Thailand, contrasted with known forms of the complex.

Anopheles (Anopheles) prachongae, a new species of the Gigas Complex from northern Thailand, is described and illustrated in the adult, pupal and larval stages, and bionomics and chaetotaxy tables are provided for the immature stages. The species is distinguished from Anopheles baileyi, the only other species of the complex known to occur in Thailand, and contrasted with other taxa of the complex that occur in the Oriental Region. Available morphological data indicate that An. gigas sumatrana is unique and is therefore formally afforded species status. The three other Sumatran subspecies may be conspecific. The taxonomic status of the non-Sumatran subspecies, i.e. crockeri (Borneo), formosus (Philippines), refutans (Sri Lanka) and simlensis (south-central Asia), is questioned but their status is unchanged pending further study.

West Virginia Mosquitoes: Sequential List by Publication, Newly Found Species, Corrections, and Notes for Earlier Records.

A chronological list of species based on date of publication is provided for confirmed mosquito species in West Virginia. Five additional newly found species in the state are documented with collection data. Two previously misidentified or mislabeled published records are corrected. The number of confirmed species occurring in the state is now 35, and many more species are likely present, but undetected. Significant populations of 4 widely distributed known vector species, Aedes albopictus , Ae. japonicus japonicus, Ae. triseriatus, and Culex pipiens , in West Virginia signal an urgent need for additional studies, surveillance, and increased mosquito control efforts to help prevent future native and invasive arbovirus infections and outbreaks in local residents.

Mansonia titillans: New Resident Species or Infrequent Visitor in Chatham County, Georgia, and Beaufort County, South Carolina, USA.

In September, October, and November 2014, adult Mansonia titillans were collected at 4 separate sites near Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia, and 1 site in Muscogee County, GA, during routine mosquito surveillance. Although previously recorded from Beaufort County, SC, and several inland southern Georgia counties, recent reports of this species from coastal Georgia or South Carolina are lacking. These newly captured Ma. titillans specimens represent the first documented records for Muscogee County and Chatham County, GA, and may indicate a recent northern expansion or reintroduction of this species along the Georgia and South Carolina coast.

Aedes pertinax, a Newly Recognized Mosquito Species in the United States.

Specimens of a mosquito new to the continental USA, Aedes pertinax, were retrospectively identified from 2 collections made in 2011 in Indian River County, FL. Routine mosquito surveillance in subsequent years yielded more than 700 specimens appearing in 100 collections. The distribution of this mosquito in Florida and the United States is currently unknown, and recognition of the adult female is likely hampered by morphological similarities to Ae. atlanticus and Ae. tormentor.

Morphology of the larvae, male genitalia and DNA sequences of Anopheles (Kerteszia) pholidotus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Colombia.

Since 1984, Anopheles (Kerteszia) lepidotus has been considered a mosquito species that is involved in the transmission of malaria in Colombia, after having been incriminated as such with epidemiological evidence from a malaria outbreak in Cunday-Villarrica, Tolima. Subsequent morphological analyses of females captured in the same place and at the time of the outbreak showed that the species responsible for the transmission was not An. lepidotus, but rather Anopheles pholidotus. However, the associated morphological stages and DNA sequences of An. pholidotus from the foci of Cunday-Villarrica had not been analysed. Using samples that were caught recently from the outbreak region, the purpose of this study was to provide updated and additional information by analysing the morphology of female mosquitoes, the genitalia of male mosquitoes and fourth instar larvae of An. pholidotus, which was confirmed with DNA sequences of cytochrome oxidase I and rDNA internal transcribed spacer. A total of 1,596 adult females were collected in addition to 37 larval collections in bromeliads. Furthermore, 141 adult females, which were captured from the same area in the years 1981-1982, were analysed morphologically. Ninety-five DNA sequences were analysed for this study. Morphological and molecular analyses showed that the species present in this region corresponds to An. pholidotus. Given the absence of An. lepidotus, even in recent years, we consider that the species of mosquitoes that was previously incriminated as the malaria vector during the outbreak was indeed An. pholidotus, thus ending the controversy.

Morphology of the larvae, male genitalia and DNA sequences of Anopheles (Kerteszia) pholidotus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Colombia

Since 1984, Anopheles (Kerteszia) lepidotus has been considered a mosquito species that is involved in the transmission of malaria in Colombia, after having been incriminated as such with epidemiological evidence from a malaria outbreak in Cunday-Villarrica, Tolima. Subsequent morphological analyses of females captured in the same place and at the time of the outbreak showed that the species responsible for the transmission was not An. lepidotus, but rather Anopheles pholidotus. However, the associated morphological stages and DNA sequences of An. pholidotus from the foci of Cunday-Villarrica had not been analysed. Using samples that were caught recently from the outbreak region, the purpose of this study was to provide updated and additional information by analysing the morphology of female mosquitoes, the genitalia of male mosquitoes and fourth instar larvae of An. pholidotus, which was confirmed with DNA sequences of cytochrome oxidase I and rDNA internal transcribed spacer. A total of 1,596 adult females were collected in addition to 37 larval collections in bromeliads. Furthermore, 141 adult females, which were captured from the same area in the years 1981-1982, were analysed morphologically. Ninety-five DNA sequences were analysed for this study. Morphological and molecular analyses showed that the species present in this region corresponds to An. pholidotus. Given the absence of An. lepidotus, even in recent years, we consider that the species of mosquitoes that was previously incriminated as the malaria vector during the outbreak was indeed An. pholidotus, thus ending the controversy.

First Record of Aedes stimulans from Louisiana.

The first confirmed collection of Aedes stimulans in Louisiana was made in St. Tammany Parish, LA. A single adult female was collected by a large-bore aspirator in March 2011, and identified by microscopic and molecular methods. Notes are provided on the morphology, location, habitat, and potential mosquito associates that may be found with Ae. stimulans.

Differentiation of Aedes atlanticus and Aedes tormentor by restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the second internal transcribed spacer.

Using novel DNA sequence data, we designed a restriction enzyme assay that distinguishes Aedes atlanticus and Ae. tormentor, based on size polymorphisms. The restriction endonuclease Hpy188I digests polymerase chain reaction-amplified 2nd internal transcribed spacer products once for Ae. atlanticus and twice for Ae. tormentor, thus providing a useful method for identifying adult female collections that are generally considered morphologically indistinguishable.

Sequence, secondary structure, and phylogenetic analyses of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) in members of the North American Signifera Group of Orthopodomyia (Diptera: Culicidae).

Mosquitoes of the genus Orthopodomyia (Diptera: Culicidae) are little known and of uncertain epidemiological importance. In the United States, there are three Orthopodomyia species (i.e., Or. signifera (Coquillett), Or. alba Baker, and Or. kummi Edwards); they are all members of the Signifera Group based on the current morphological taxonomy. In the course of identifying recently collected specimens, a problem was found with the current key morphological characters for separating the fourth instar larvae of Or. signifera and Or. kummi. Internal transcribed spacer two sequences of the rDNA were obtained to resolve the identities. The Orthopodomyia internal transcribed spacer two ranged in size from 193 (Or. kummi) to 244 bp (Or. signifera) (mean = 218 bp) and were slightly Adenine/Thymine enriched (44.7% Guanine/Cytosine on average). Putative secondary structures reveal structural homologies (four domains) consistent between species that also feature conserved sequences specific to mosquitoes (e.g., a conserved motif on the 3' aspect of the longest helix: GARTACATCC). Sequence analyses suggest that in certain areas of southwestern North America, hybridization may occur between Or. kummi and Or. signifera. Furthermore, our analyses confirm that Or. californica (a junior synonym of Or. signifera) is indeed Or. signifera. To our knowledge, this is the first sequence-based phylogenetic and molecular analysis of the Orthopodomyia.

Anopheles (Kerteszia) lepidotus (Diptera: Culicidae), not the malaria vector we thought it was: Revised male and female morphology; larva, pupa, and male genitalia characters; and molecular verification.

The name Anopheles (Kerteszia) lepidotus Zavortink, commonly used for an important malaria vector in the eastern cordillera of the Andes, is here corrected to An. pholidotus Zavortink. We discovered that An. (Ker.) specimens from Peru, and reared-associated specimens from Ecuador, had unambiguous habitus characters that matched those on the male holotype of An. lepidotus. However, the specimens do not exhibit characters of the female allotype and female paratypes of An. lepidotus, which are actually An. pholidotus. Our specimens are the first correctly associated females of An. lepidotus, which allow us to provide a new morphological interpretation for the adult habitus of this species. This finding is also corroborated by molecular data from a portion of the Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene and ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (rDNA ITS2). The pupal stage of An. lepidotus is described for the first time, and additional larval characters are also noted. Diagnostic morphological characters for the adult, pupal, and larval stages of An. pholidotus are provided to separate the two species. All stages of An. lepidotus are easily separated from other currently known species in subgenus Kerteszia and a new key to the females of An. (Kerteszia) is given. Previously published distribution, bionomics, and medical significance data are corrected and enhanced.

An annotated list of the mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Mississippi.

There has been no previous systematic statewide study of mosquitoes in Mississippi. This survey, resulting in the collection of over 400,000 specimens, was conducted by the authors from 2003 to 2007 throughout much of the state using CO2-baited CDC light traps and larval dipping. In addition, a health department contract mosquito surveillance technician collected several thousand specimens from the state from 2001 to 2003. Lastly, specimens housed at the Mississippi State University Entomological Museum, obtained from previous surveys, were included as vouchers for species occurring in the state. The collection records and literature show 60 species as occurring or having occurred in Mississippi. Voucher specimens representing 57 of the 60 species discussed are deposited in the Mississippi Entomological Museum or in the U.S. National Museum of Natural History (USNM), Washington, D.C.

Recent discovery of widespread Ixodes affinis (Acari: Ixodidae) distribution in North Carolina with implications for Lyme disease studies.

Ixodes affinis, which is similar morphologically to Ixodes scapularis, is widely distributed in North Carolina. Collections have documented this species in 32 of 41 coastal plain counties, but no piedmont or mountain counties. This coastal plain distribution is similar to its distribution in Georgia and South Carolina, where it is considered an enzootic vector of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. An updated list of hosts for I. affinis in the U.S.A. is included, increasing the number to 15 mammal and one bird species. The presence of questing adults of I. affinis from April to November reinforces the need for confirmed identifications of suspected tick vectors of Borrelia spirochetes collected during warm months.

Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand. VI. Tribe Aedini.

Illustrated keys for the identification of the fourth-instar larvae and adult females of the mosquito species of tribe Aedini in Thailand are presented, along with the geographic distribution of the species and the known habitats of their immature stages. The keys are the first to encompass the recent revisionary studies of tribe Aedini. One hundred and seventy-five species of Aedini belonging to 38 genera and 18 subgenera are recognized in Thailand. Two species of genus Armigeres, two of genus Collessius, and one of genus Downsiomyia are undescribed. Himalaius simlensis [formerly Aedes (Finlaya) simlensis], Hopkinsius (Yamada) albocinctus [formerly Aedes (Finlaya) albocinctus], Downsiomyia nipponica and Downsiomyia saperoi [formerly species of Aedes (Finlaya)], and Hulecoeteomyia pallirostris [formerly Ochlerotatus (Finlaya) pallirostris] are new country records. Aedimorphus (formerly a subgenus of Aedes), Cancraedes, and Rhinoskusea (formerly subgenera of Ochlerotatus) are recognized as genera, and genus Petermattinglyius includes species previously included in Diceromyia (formerly a subgenus of Aedes) in Thailand. Heteraspidion, Huangmyia, Stegomyia, and Xyele are newly recognized subgenera of genus Stegomyia (formerly a subgenus of Aedes), which includes eight species without subgeneric placement. Two unidentified and unplaced species were discovered in Thailand.

Rapid assessment of mosquitoes and arbovirus activity after floods in southeastern Kansas, 2007.

A rapid assessment was conducted in July-August 2007 to determine the impact of heavy rains and early summer floods on the mosquitoes and arbovirus activity in 4 southeastern Kansas counties. During 10 days and nights of collections using different types and styles of mosquito traps, a total of 10,512 adult female mosquitoes representing 29 species were collected, including a new species record for Kansas (Psorophora mathesoni). High numbers of Aedes albopictus were collected. Over 4,000 specimens of 4 Culex species in 235 species-specific pools were tested for the presence of West Nile, St. Louis, and western equine encephalitis viruses. Thirty pools representing 3 Culex species were positive for West Nile virus (WNV). No other arboviruses were detected in the samples. Infection rates of WNV in Culex pipiens complex in 2 counties (10.7/1,000 to 22.6/1,000) and in Culex salinarius in 1 county (6.0/1,000) were sufficiently high to increase the risk of transmission to humans. The infection rate of WNV in Culex erraticus was 1.9/1,000 in one county. Two focal hot spots of intense WNV transmission were identified in Montgomery and Wilson counties, where infection rates in Cx. pipiens complex were 26/ 1,000 and 19.9/1,000, respectively. Despite confirmed evidence of WNV activity in the area, there was no increase in human cases of arboviral disease documented in the 4 counties for the remainder of 2007.

Anopheles lindesayi japonicus Yamada (Diptera: Culicidae) in Korea: comprehensive review, new collection records, and description of larval habitats.

Anopheles lindesayi japonicus Yamada is an uncommonly collected mosquito in Korea, and its presence is based upon limited collection data and anecdotal reports in Korean mosquito literature: 45 specimens collected from 15 identified sites. This study reports the collection of 538 specimens from 16 sites as part of the authors' 2004-2007 anopheline surveillance. Larvae were collected from stream margins, stream pools, rock pools, seepage springs, artificial containers, swamps, and ditches and were found in association with seven other culicid species. Inclusion of the authors' data with previous published and unpublished records makes this a comprehensive report on this species in Korea. New province records are reported for this species at Hwacheon and Wonju in Gangwon Province, Mt. Palgong in Daegu Metropolitan, and Chungju and Mt. Worak in Chungcheongbuk Province in the Republic of Korea.

New diagnostic characters for females of Psorophora (Janthinosoma) species in the United States, with notes on Psorophora mexicana (Bellardi) (Diptera: Culicidae).

The discovery of an unusual specimen of Psorophora in Mississippi led to a search for new diagnostic characters on the seven United States species of Psorophora (Janthinosoma): Psorophora cyanescens, Ps. ferox, Ps. horrida, Ps. johnstonii, Ps. longipalpus, Ps. mathesoni, and Ps. mexicana. New characters were found and diagnostic descriptions and a new key are provided for identifying female specimens. The new key stresses morphological differences other than color patterns on the hindtarsi, however, notes on hindtarsal color and other variations found on each species are also provided. The status of Ps. mexicana specimens recorded from Texas is reviewed and a list of collections of this species since the 1945 record in Texas is provided. Evidence is provided supporting the recognition of Ps. mexicana as a distinct species.