First record of the West Nile virus bridge vector Culex modestus Ficalbi (Diptera: Culicidae) in Belgium, validated by DNA barcoding

• DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4920.1.7
• Publication Date: 2021-01-26T23:51:46Z
• Authors: KATRIEN DE WOLF; ANN VANDERHEYDEN; ISRA DEBLAUWE; NATHALIE SMITZ; SOPHIE GOMBEER; ADWINE VANSLEMBROUCK; KENNY MEGANCK; WOUTER DEKONINCK; MARC DE MEYER; THIERRY BACKELJAU; RUTH MÜLLER; WIM VAN BORTEL
• Keywords: Biodiversity; DNA; Mosquito Vectors; 3. Good health; Culex; 03 medical and health sciences; Culicidae; 0302 clinical medicine; Belgium; Animals; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; Biology; West Nile virus; Taxonomy

A thorough knowledge of the presence and spatio-temporal distribution patterns of vector species are pivotal to assess the risk of mosquito-borne diseases in Europe. In 2018, a Culex larva was collected during routine monitoring activities to intercept exotic Aedes mosquito species in the port of Antwerp (Kallo, Belgium). The larva, collected from a pond in mid-September, was morphologically identified as Culex modestus, and this identification was subsequently confirmed by COI barcoding. It is the first confirmed record of this West Nile virus bridge vector in Belgium. The present study also demonstrates the value of DNA-based identification techniques to validate the presence of potential vector species.