Mosquitoes (Diptera culicidae) of Friuli Venezia Giulia (north-eastern Italy): Annotated checklist, geographic distribution and habitats of pre-imaginal stages

Abstract

The updated Checklist of the Diptera Culicidae recorded in Friuli Venezia Giulia (north-eastern Italy) is reported. In addition to already published data since 1920s, recent and original data are provided. The list includes a total of 37 mosquito species (out of 66 species known for Italy) of which 31 currently present. The occurrence of Anopheles hyrcanus, Culex martinii, Culiseta subochrea and Uranotaenia unguiculata needs to be confirmed; Ae. dorsalis is of uncertain identification; An. sacharovi, the main past malaria vector, is presumably locally extinct. The list includes three exotic species, Aedes albopictus widespread in plain and hilly urban areas, Ae. japonicus and Ae. koreicus, both recently detected in some hilly and mountain areas. Data on the geographic distribution in the region and on the ecology of the pre-imaginal stages are provided. Many of the recorded species are of health concern as potential vectors of pathogens. Further studies, conducted mainly in the less investigated mountain areas, will probably enrich the regional mosquito fauna.