Culex torrentium

Culex torrentium is a species of mosquito in the family Culicidae. This species has a wide distribution in the temperate Palaearctic region.

Culex torrentium
Culex torrentium hypopygium. The ventral arm of paraproct is long and recurved
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Culicidae
Genus:	Culex
Species:	C. torrentium
Binomial name
Culex torrentium Martini, 1925

Description

The species is very similar to Culex pipiens. The most reliable characteristics for distinguishing Culex torrentium from Culex pipiens are found in males, namely in the hypopygium. The dorsal arm of paraproct is pointed and twisted at the apex (not blunt as in Culex pipiens). The ventral arm of paraproct is long and recurved.^[1]

Distribution

Culex torrentium is found in Palaearctic. In a group of two sympatric species, Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium, proportion of Culex torrentium is increased from South to North.^[2] In Leningrad Region of Russia, Culex torrentium is less abundant species than Culex pipiens, based on preliminary studies.^[3][4]