Rediscovery of Culex (Neoculex) martinii Medschid, 1930 (Diptera, Culicidae) in Germany.

The culicid Culex martinii is an extremely rare species in Germany, with only one reference in the scientific literature, according to which larvae were found once in 1935 in the eastern part of the country. During regular mosquito sampling activities with BG-Sentinel traps, Cx. martinii was rediscovered in autumn 2017 at one location in the German federal state of Thuringia. Prompted by this finding, the Peus mosquito collection at the Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt was checked for further specimens of this species. Indeed, it contained Cx. martinii specimens from two sites in southern Germany from 1973 in addition to the published finding from 1935 and further specimens from that latter site from 1936 and 1951. Due to its rarity, little is known on the ecology of Cx. martinii and nothing on a possible vector role.

Aberrant claw forms in the Annulipes Group of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae: Aedes) in Germany.

Specimens of five species of the culicid Annulipes Group (Aedes annulipes, Ae. cantans, Ae. excrucians, Ae. flavescens, Ae. riparius), collected in the framework of the German mosquito monitoring programme, were examined for aberrant tarsal claws. Twenty types of aberrations regarding position, size, multiplication and structural modification of the tarsal claw and its basal tooth that were detected are described and illustrated. Different basal tooth positions found on claws reveal a basic blueprint of possible positions on mosquito tarsal claws. Morphological peculiarities and asymmetric occurrence of the aberrant claw types, as well as possible causes, are discussed with respect to species and gender.

On the distribution and ecology of Culiseta (Culicella) ochroptera (Peus) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Germany.

Culiseta ochroptera is a rare mosquito species in Germany, for which little ecological data are available. It is a species of peatlands where it occurs in a variety of habitats in different mire types. These landscape elements, strongly reduced and degraded by human use, are now often protected areas. Within the scope of a Germany-wide mosquito monitoring program, Cs. ochroptera was documented several times from 2011 to 2017, complementing historical data about its distribution and ecology. The records in northern and eastern Germany represent different types of peatlands and aquatic sites. Highest seasonal population densities were recorded in July and August, caused by the second of at least two annual generations. The morphological variants of Cs. ochroptera as described in the past were assigned to three forms (light, normal, dark), and the previously noted but neglected presence of postspiracular scales is recognized as a useful character supporting species identification.

The Asian bush mosquito Aedes japonicus japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Europe, 17 years after its first detection, with a focus on monitoring methods.

After the first detection of the Asian bush mosquito Aedes japonicus japonicus in the year 2000 in France, its invasive nature was revealed in 2008 in Switzerland and Germany. In the following years, accumulating reports have shown that Ae. j. japonicus succeeded in establishing in several European countries. Surveillance efforts suggest that there are currently four populations in Europe, with the largest one, formed by the recent fusion of several smaller populations, ranging from West Germany, with extensions to Luxembourg and French Alsace, southwards to Switzerland and continuing westwards through Liechtenstein to western Austria. This paper summarises the present distribution of Ae. j. japonicus in Europe, based on published literature and hitherto unpublished findings by the authors, and critically reviews the monitoring strategies applied. A proposal for a more standardised monitoring approach is provided, aiming at the harmonisation of future data collections for improving the comparability between studies and the suitability of collected data for further research purposes, e.g. predictive modelling approaches.

The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Central Germany: Surveillance in its northernmost distribution area.

The invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus has recently been observed in southern Germany for the first time to reproduce and even overwinter north of the Alps. After the accidental capture of adult specimens in Jena, German federal state of Thuringia, in mid-2015, regular inspections brought forth developmental stages until autumn 2015, indicating local reproduction. Surveillance activities implemented in 2016 showed larvae already in early May, suggesting overwintering, and throughout the season until late October, although population densities remained low. Further sporadic specimens found in 2017 argue for establishment. Jena is located in Central Germany, north of all known distribution areas of Ae. albopictus, with the area of the municipality affected by the tiger mosquito characterised by a relatively mild climate. To check the suitability of the local climate for Ae. albopictus, winter temperatures, measured in a cemetery of Jena where larvae had regularly been found in 2015 and 2016, were analysed and compared with two sites of establishment in southern Germany. The conditions were similar at all three locations, suggesting that the Jena population might also be able to survive in the long term. While the municipality authorities have been informed and education of the Jena citizens to avoid producing potential breeding places has started, insecticidal control has not yet been implemented.

Occurrence and Spread of the Invasive Asian Bush Mosquito Aedes japonicus japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae) in West and North Germany since Detection in 2012 and 2013, Respectively.

The invasive Asian bush mosquito Aedes japonicus japonicus was first recognised as established in Germany in 2008. In addition to the first known and quickly expanding population in the southwestern part of the country, three separate populations were discovered in West, North and southeastern Germany in 2012, 2013 and 2015, respectively, by means of the 'Mueckenatlas', a German instrument of passive mosquito surveillance. Since the first findings of mosquito specimens in West and North Germany, these regions were checked annually for continuing colonisation and spread of the species. Both affected areas were covered by a virtual 10x10km2 grid pattern in the cells of which cemeteries were screened for immature stages of the mosquito. The cells were considered populated as soon as larvae or pupae were detected, whereas they were classified as negative when no mosquito stages were found in the cemeteries of at least three different towns or villages. Presence was also recorded when Ae. j. japonicus adults were submitted to the 'Mueckenatlas' from the respective cell or when there was evidence of local occurrence in localities other than cemeteries. Based on this approach, a significant expansion of the populated area was documented in West Germany since the first detection of Ae. j. japonicus in 2012 (increase in positive grid cells by more than 400%), while the North German population appears not to be expanding so far (reduction of positive grid cells by ca. 30% since 2013). As Ae. j. japonicus finds suitable climatic and ecological conditions in Germany, the differential expansion of the two populations might be attributed to the West German population being older and thus more firmly established than the closely related but younger North German population that might still be in its founder phase. However, geographic spread of all German populations in the future is anticipated. Continuous surveillance is recommended, as Ae. j. japonicus is a competent vector of several pathogens in the laboratory.