Identification of Culex quinquefasciatus and their hybrids in Tokyo Metropolis area

Abstract

: Surveillance of vector mosquitoes has been conducted in Tokyo since 2004, and Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens complex were identified as the dominant and widely-distributed species in Tokyo Metropolis. We performed PCR-based identification of the Cx. pipiens complex that we collected using CO 2 baited-traps from 25 sites in Tokyo Metropolis area between 2018 and 2019. In 2019 mosquito larvae were collected from catch basins at 9 sites, reared to adult, and a part of the emerged Cx. pipiens comlex were identified by PCR-based method. As a result, Cx. quinquefasciatus and the hybrids between Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. pipiens complex (excluding Cx. quinquefasciatus ) were identified in Tokyo Metropolis area for the first time. Continuous field survey is required whether Cx. quinquefasciatus have already been distributed or not in Tokyo Metropolis.