Te fauna of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Armenia

Abstract

An annotated list of 40 species of mosquitoes of the Republic of Armenia is presented. Te mosquito fauna was studied from March to December in 2021–2023 at 394–2142 m above sea level. Te material collected from 30 localities, covering more than 50 habitats, primarily in the central and northern parts of the country. In addition to using cytogenetic and molecular diagnostic methods, the larvae and adults morphological characteristics or egg chorion pattern were used to identify 1607 adults and 392 larvae. As a result of our research, 23 species of mosquitoes were identifed, fve of them (Aedes cyprius Ludlow, 1920, A. euedes Howard, Dyar et Knab, 1913, A. excrucians (Walker, 1856), A. riparius Dyar et Knab, 1907, and Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823) are recorded for the frst time for the fauna of Armenia. Te frst four species were found at altitudes above 2000 meters. Culex quinquefasciatus was initially found in 2022 on the southern border with Iran and then was collected in the Ararat Valley in 2023. Te faunas of Culicidae of Armenia and surrounding areas (the North Caucasus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran) are compared.

Keywords

• culicidae
• mosquitoes
• fauna
• armenia