We all know that mosquitoes are one of the most annoying insects on Earth, but few people know that they can also be very dangerous. The genus of blood-sucking mosquito Culex belongs to the family Culicidae, subfamily Culicinae, and is a specific carrier of various viral infections, including wucheriosis and bruges. In addition, some species can carry pathogens of serious diseases such as tularemia. In this article, we will look at which species of mosquitoes belong to the genus Culex and how they can affect our health.
Culex is one of the most common genera of mosquitoes on Earth. It has more than 40 species, which belong to two subtypes: biting and blood-sucking. Among them there are several species known to carry moderate diseases such as Culex tritorensis - West Nile virus, Marseille fever, yellow fever virus. Other viruses transmitted by mosquito bites include: chikungunya virus, Philippine hemorrhagic fever. Some species belonging to the genus can bite both animals and humans, others can only give blood to warm-blooded animals. Basically, Culex are mosquitoes that can be seen in North and South America, Africa, Australia, Europe and Asia. They are often found in enclosed areas such as homes, farms, cities, where humidity and temperature provide favorable conditions for reproduction. It is also known that some Culex species can transmit infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites. Some common species associated with such infections are Culex mexicanus, Culex pipiens, and Culex quinquefasciatus. These species have rightfully earned the reputation of being the “homeland” of various infectious agents. Culex eggs are known to be transmitted by human unidentified larvae. Bedbugs typically transmit Culex larvae, with adults found in weather-protected areas that are damp and warm, such as near water sources, in cracks, between buildings. Compared to other insects, Culex vectors are used before the larval stage because it is at this stage that infectious agents (eg malaria) are transmitted. Flight individuals remain protected from the transfer of infectious agents by dense body surfaces.