Overwintering site of Culex pipiens pallens in an urban environment of Saitama Prefecture in Japan

Abstract

Culex pipiens pallens is a member of the Cx. pipiens complex in Japan. The ecological conditions favorable for overwintering of Cx. p. pallens in urban areas are unknown. In two culverts of an urban environment in Saitama Prefecture, we collected 163 and 65 overwintering Culex adult mosquitoes in February 2005, and 133 and 51 in early March 2006, respectively. Molecular identification of 89 mosquitoes collected from culvert A in 2005 showed that all specimens were Cx. p. pallens. Our finding shows that the overwintering sites of Cx. p. pallens in an urban environment. It is important to understand the ecology of overwintering of Cx. p. pallens in an urban areas and consequently contribute to control of overwintering mosquitoes.