Morphometric, physiological and molecular characteristics of underground populations of the urban mosquito Culex pipiens Linnaeus f. molestus Forskål (Diptera: Culicidae) from several areas of Russia

This is the first comparative study of the populations of the urban mosquito, Culex pipiens Linnaeus f. molestus Forskål, from the underground habitats from 10 cities of Russia (throughout the territory from 62-40°N, and 30-85°E). Some diagnostic morphometric, physiological and molecular characteristics were investigated. The mean siphonal index varied in geographical populations from 3.4 to 4.4 (i.e. within the reported range of the urban mosquitoes). Autogeny was recorded in all populations: the incidence of autogenous females varied from 60 to 100%. In all mosquito populations, 60-100% (mainly more than 90%) of females were infected with the endosymbiotic bacterium, Wolbachia pipientis. The Wolbachia infection was correlated with mitochondrial DNA haplotype (mitotype M). Two fragments, 220 bp and 90 bp in length, were obtained by means of restriction analysis of 3’end of cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene using Ssp I. In all populations, the rDNA ITS2 fragments were c.460 bp (ITS2 = 325-333 bp). Similarity of the mitotypes and genotypes of the geographically isolated city populations support the hypothesis that the urban mosquitoes are of common origin.