Culex pipiens: Species Versus Species Complex – Taxonomic History and Perspective

• Published in: Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association Vol. 28; no. 4s; pp. 10 - 23
• Main Author: Harbach, Ralph E
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: 15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 American Mosquito Control Association, Inc 01.12.2012; American Mosquito Control Association
• Subjects: Africa; Animal Distribution; Animals; Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Evolution; classification; cohesion; Culex - anatomy & histology; Culex - classification; Culex - physiology; Culex pipiens; distribution; evolution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic Speciation; holotypes; humans; Hybridization, Genetic; introgression; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; Mosquitoes; neotypes; phenotype; Physiology; Pipiens Assemblage; Pipiens Complex; sibling species; taxonomy; Vectors. Intermediate hosts; West Nile virus; Zoology; Africa; Taxonomy; Insecta; Parasite; Culex pipiens; evolution; distribution; Species complex; Pipiens Complex; Pipiens Assemblage; Perspective; Arthropoda; Culicidae; Classification; Ectoparasite; Invertebrata; Vector; Diptera

The taxonomic history of Culex pipiens (1758–present) is reviewed. The central question is whether Cx. pipiens is a single polytypic species or a complex of sibling species? The taxon traditionally known as the Cx. pipiens complex is referred to as the Pipiens Assemblage to avoid difficulties associ...