Mosquito diversity in an urban landscape: species composition and a new record of Culiseta longiareolata ław, Poland
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17420/ap72.553Keywords:
Culiseta longiareolata, mosquito diversity, Poland,, first recordAbstract
Climate change, globalisation, and land use transformation are driving the redistribution of mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae), with urban areas becoming hotspots for both native and invasive taxa. This study assessed mosquito species diversity in Wrocław, SW Poland, based on CDC trap collections from 14 sites between May and October 2024. A total of 17,104 adult mosquitoes were collected, of which 16,728 (97.8%) were identified to species level. Fifteen species across five genera were recorded, with Aedes vexans dominating the assemblage (68.7%), followed by Coquillettidia richiardii (9.8%). Molecular analyses confirmed all morphologically identified species. Mosquito abundance peaked in July and August, although some locations showed earlier seasonal maxima. Species such as Ae. vexans, Cq. richiardii, and Culex pipiens s.l./Cx. torrentium were present at all sites, while others were more localised. Notably, Culiseta longiareolata, previously unrecorded in Poland, was detected at a single urban site, contributing to recent evidence of a northward shift in its European distribution. Although based on only two individuals, this finding may indicate an early signal of a northward range of extension rather than evidence of established populations. These results underscore the value of continuous urban mosquito surveillance for documenting changes in species composition, detecting potential range shifts, and assessing public health risks under changing environmental conditions.
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