First record of Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) in Alberta: expanding distributions and ecotype patterns in a western Canadian province.

ABSTRACT: Culex pipiens is an invasive mosquito found in temperate regions globally. It is considered among the most important disease vectors worldwide and is responsible for the transmission of a range of pathogens, including West Nile virus, avian malaria, Saint Louis encephalitis, and filarial worms. Throughout its northern temperate range, this mosquito is found in 2 ecotypes: form pipiens and form molestus. In Canada, this mosquito was previously thought restricted to the Pacific coast of British Columbia and the eastern provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. Through routine mosquito surveillance and targeted trapping for Cx. pipiens, we detected this mosquito in 2 Albertan municipalities earlier than suggested by species distribution modeling based on climate change data. We confirm

SUBMITTER: Pan T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11919614 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature