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Natura Croatica Issue number: Natura Croatica, Vol. 27 No.2

Culex torrentium (Martini), nova vrsta u hrvatskoj fauni komaraca

Authors: Enrih Merdić, Martina Kujavec, Marija Kovačević, Martina Žulj, Nataša Graovac, Goran Vignjević, Nataša Turić

Authors and affiliation

  • Enrih Merdić Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Department of biology, Cara Hadrijana 8/A, 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, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadrijana 8/A, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
  • Nataša Turić Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University, Ulica cara Hadrijana 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

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