Asian Scientist (Jul. 30, 2013) – Australia has plenty of ‘home grown’ mosquitoes but one introduced species is active all year round, according to a new study.
Its scientific name is Culex molestus but it is commonly known as the London Underground Mosquito.
Dr Cameron Webb, the leader of the study, said the mosquito feasted on Londoners who took shelter in the underground train network during the bombings of the city in the 1940s.
“One of the most important findings of this study was that an analysis of weekly mosquito trapping over a 13-month period indicated that the mosquito remains active over cooler months. Almost all other mosquitoes disappear during winter.
“The mosquito is unique in that it prefers to live in underground environments but there are now concerns regarding the role this mosquito may play in the transmission of mosquito-borne viruses in Australian cities,” he said.
“We normally think of mosquitoes being a problem in the tropical regions of the world but as the outbreak of West Nile virus in North America last year showed us, temperate regions of the world are at risk too.
The study, published in the Australian Journal of Entomology, found that the mosquito is widespread, being collected at over 230 locations. Interestingly, no specimens have been reported from Queensland or Northern Territory.
“Genetic analysis of specimens from throughout Australia, as well as Asia, Europe and North America, indicate that the species was most likely introduced from Japan,” Dr Webb said.
“It has long been suspected that the mosquito hitched a ride to Australia with military movements into Victoria during WWII.”
“The implications from this research is that local authorities must be mindful of this mosquito’s ability to exploit unexpected underground habitats. As we increase water storages in metropolitan regions of Australia, we must be careful not to create new underground habitats for this pest mosquito,” warns Dr Webb.
Much of the work for the project was conducted by PhD candidate Nur Abu Kassim, who is from Malaysia.
The article can be found at: Kassim et al. (2013) Australian Distribution, Genetic Status And Seasonal Abundance Of The Exotic Mosquito Culex Molestus (Forskal) (Diptera: Culicidae).
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Source: University of Sydney.
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