Magdalena Laurito

COI barcode versus morphological identification of Culex (Culex) (Diptera: Culicidae) species: a case study using samples from Argentina and Brazil

Sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial gene from adults of 22 Culex ( Culex ) species from Argentina and Brazil were employed to assess species identification and to test the usefulness of COI for barcoding using the best close match (BCM) algorithm. A pairwise Kimura two-parameter distance matrix including the mean intra and interspecific distances for 71 COI barcode sequences was constructed. Of the 12 COI lineages recovered in the Neighbour-joining topology, five confirmed recognised morphological species ( Cx. acharistus , Cx. chidesteri , Cx. dolosus , Cx. lygrus and Cx. saltanensis ) with intraspecific divergences lower than 1.75%. Cx. bilineatus is formally resurrected from the synonymy of Cx. dolosus . Cx. maxi , Cx. surinamensis and the Coronator group species included were clustered into an unresolved lineage. The intraspecific distance of Cx. pipiens (3%) was almost twice the interspecific between it and Cx. quinquefasciatus (1.6%). Regarding the BCM criteria, the COI barcode successfully identified 69% of all species. The rest of the sequences, approximately 10%, 18% and 3%, remained as ambiguously, mis and unidentified, respectively. The COI barcode does not contain enough information to distinguish Culex ( Cux. ) species.

New records of mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) from Neuquén and La Rioja provinces, Argentina.

Relata-se a presenca de Aedes aegypti ao sul de seu limite atual de distribuicao na Argentina, na cidade de Neuquen, provincia de Neuquen. Ovitrampas foram instaladas de dezembro/2009 a abril/2010. A distribuicao geografica de Culex eduardoi, Psorophora ciliata e Ps. cingulata aumenta, incluindo novos registros para duas provincias.The presence of Aedes aegypti is reported beyond its current limit of distribution in Argentina, in the city of Neuquén, Neuquén Province. Ovitraps were placed to collect Ae. aegypti eggs between December 2009 and April 2010. The geographical distribution of Culex eduardoi, Psorophora ciliata and Ps. cingulata is extended with new records from two provinces.

Two New Mosquito Species and Six New Provincial Records in Argentina

Abstract The geographical distribution of Aedes pennai, Anopheles galvaoi, Coquillettidia albicosta, Cq. nigricans, Culex usquatissimus, Cx. apicinus, Cx. chidesteri, Cx. coronator s.l., Cx. interfor, Cx. maxi, Cx. pipiens, Cx. saltanensis, Cx. educator, Cx. serratimarge, Cx. theobaldi, Psorophora cyanescens, Ps. cilipes, Ps. cingulata, Ps. pallescens, Uranotaenia lanei, Ur. nataliae, Wyeomyia diabolica, and Wy. melanocephala is extended, including new records for 6 provinces and 2 new records for the country, increasing the number of species in Argentina from 226 to 228.

New records of mosquito species for Central and Cuyo regions in Argentina.

Abstract The geographical distributions of Aedes aegypti, Culex apicinus, Cx. educator, Cx. interfor, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Mansonia humeralis, Ma. indubitans, and Psorophora albigenu/varipes are extended, including new records for 2 provinces.

First record of Culex (Melanoconion) pilosus from Cordoba City, Argentina.

Abstract Larvae of Culex (Melanoconion) pilosus were collected in February 2006 during a survey of mosquito fauna inhabiting water bodies in an urban environment in Córdoba city. This is the 1st record of the species in this locality of Argentina, the most western report of this species in the Chaco phytogeographic region.

Morphological variation in diagnostic features for two Culex (Culex) species of the Neotropical Region (Diptera: Culicidae).

The classification of Culex L., with 768 species worldwide (Harbach 2015), is based mainly on adult anatomical characters (Harbach et al. 2012). The accurate identification of the 198 species included in the subgenus Culex is dependent on a few morphological characters, principally of the male genitalia (Harbach et al. 2012). Most species within Culex ( Culex ) have been described based on male genitalia due to their low intraspecific variability compared to characters of females and larvae. Male genitalia provide synapomorphic characters useful in establishing phylogenetic relationships in Culicidae (Reinert et al. 2008, Reidenbach et al. 2009, Harbach et al. 2012, Laurito & Almiron 2013), as well as autapomorphic traits allowing specific identifications.

CULEX SALTANENSIS MORPHOLOGICAL REDESCRIPTION OF THE IMMATURE AND ADULT STAGES

ABSTRACT Culex (Culex) saltanensis is redescribed in the adult, pupal, and larval stages. The male genitalia, pupae, and 4th-stage larvae are illustrated. Information about distribution, bionomics, and taxonomy is included. Culex saltanensis adults are separated from the closely related species Cx. (Cux.) coronator on the basis of morphometric characters.

Molecular identification of two Culex (Culex) species of the neotropical region (Diptera: Culicidae)

Culex bidens and C. interfor, implicated in arbovirus transmission in Argentina, are sister species, only distinguishable by feature of the male genitalia; however, intermediate specimens of the species in sympatry have been found. Fourth-instar larvae and females of both species share apomorphic features, and this lack of clear distinction creates problems for specific identification. Geometric morphometric traits of these life stages also do not distinguish the species. The aim of the present study was to assess the taxonomic status of C. bidens and C. interfor using two mitochondrial genes and to determine the degree of their reproductive isolation using microsatellite loci. Sequences of the ND4 and COI genes were concatenated in a matrix of 993 nucleotides and used for phylogenetic and distance analyses. Bayesian and maximum parsimony inferences showed a well resolved and supported topology, enclosing sequences of individuals of C. bidens (0.83 BPP, 73 BSV) and C. interfor (0.98 BPP, 97 BSV) in a strong sister relationship. The mean K2P distance within C. bidens and C. interfor was 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively, and the interspecific variation was 2.3%. Bayesian clustering also showed two distinct mitochondrial lineages. All sequenced mosquitoes were successfully identified in accordance with the best close match algorithm. The low genetic distance values obtained indicate that the species diverged quite recently. Most morphologically intermediate specimens of C. bidens from Córdoba were heterozygous for the microsatellite locus GT51; the significant heterozygote excess observed suggests incomplete reproductive isolation. However, C. bidens and C. interfor should be considered good species: the ventral arm of the phallosome of the male genitalia and the ND4 and COI sequences are diagnostic characters.

Novo registro de mosquitos (Diptera: Culicidae) nas províncias de Neuquén e La Rioja, Argentina

Relata-se a presenca de Aedes aegypti ao sul de seu limite atual de distribuicao na Argentina, na cidade de Neuquen, provincia de Neuquen. Ovitrampas foram instaladas de dezembro/2009 a abril/2010. A distribuicao geografica de Culex eduardoi, Psorophora ciliata e Ps. cingulata aumenta, incluindo novos registros para duas provincias.The presence of Aedes aegypti is reported beyond its current limit of distribution in Argentina, in the city of Neuquén, Neuquén Province. Ovitraps were placed to collect Ae. aegypti eggs between December 2009 and April 2010. The geographical distribution of Culex eduardoi, Psorophora ciliata and Ps. cingulata is extended with new records from two provinces.

Nuevos registros de mosquitos (Diptera: Culicidae) en las provincias de Neuquén y La Rioja, Argentina

Relata-se a presenca de Aedes aegypti ao sul de seu limite atual de distribuicao na Argentina, na cidade de Neuquen, provincia de Neuquen. Ovitrampas foram instaladas de dezembro/2009 a abril/2010. A distribuicao geografica de Culex eduardoi, Psorophora ciliata e Ps. cingulata aumenta, incluindo novos registros para duas provincias.The presence of Aedes aegypti is reported beyond its current limit of distribution in Argentina, in the city of Neuquén, Neuquén Province. Ovitraps were placed to collect Ae. aegypti eggs between December 2009 and April 2010. The geographical distribution of Culex eduardoi, Psorophora ciliata and Ps. cingulata is extended with new records from two provinces.