Study on siphonal measurements and usefulness in delimitation of "rural" and "urban" ecotypes of Culex pipiens.
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: Mosquitoes of the Culex pipiens complex (Diptera Culicidae) are of great medical and veterinary importance as vectors for various bacterial, filarial and viral diseases. Taxonomic status, biology and ecology of members of the C. pipiens complex are still matter of study and discussion and their morphological, physiological, genetic and ecological characteristics are imprecise and often controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the usefulness of different siphonal measurements in delimitation of “rural” and “urban” ecotypes of C. pipiens. In this study, three samples from different biotopes (underground - ecotype I; aboveground - ecotypes II and III) were analysed for morphological variation using nine siphonal indices - SI (as a ratio of the length to the width measurements) and one width index - WI (representing the ratio of the width of the base and top of the siphon). Highly significant differences among the three ecotypes in all siphonal indices (SI1-SI9) were observed. It was revealed significant differences (Tukey post hoc test) between ecotype III versus I and II. Within each ecotype CV values for all nine siphon indices were similar, with the exception of WI. Therefore, usefulness and sensitivity of nine SI studied are equal.
Source: Bulletin of Insectology
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2147500629