Aedes (Ochlerotatus) cantans ( Meigen, 1818 )

Kirik, Heli, Tummeleht, Lea & Kurina, Olavi, 2022, Rediscovering the mosquito fauna (Diptera: Culicidae) of Estonia: an annotated checklist with distribution maps and DNA evidence, Zootaxa 5094 (2), pp. 261-287 : 266

4. Aedes (Ochlerotatus) cantans ( Meigen, 1818)

( Fig. 2C )

Published sources: Remm (1957: 152, as Aëdes maculatus Meigen, 1804 ), Burtin (2014: 43), Kirik et al. (2021: 11, under the Aedes (Ochlerotatus) annulipes group).

Voucher material: 1♀, Tartu (58° 22′ 17″ N, 26° 41′ 58″ E), 06.VI.2017, H. Kirik leg., H. Kirik det., sweep net, IZBE0210215 , GenBank: OK465165 ; 1♂, Tartu (58° 23′ 54″ N, 26° 44′ 40″ E), 17.V.2015, O. Kurina leg., O. Kurina det., sweep net, IZBE0210216 ; 1♀, Tartu (58° 21′ 1″ N, 26° 41′ 30″ E), 24.VI.2017, T. Kesküla leg., H. Kirik det., sweep net, IZBE0210217 , GenBank: OK465166 .

Comment: Aedes cantans belongs to the Ae. annulipes group. The species of this group can be distinguished based on morphological characteristics, but due to the variability of some traits, as well as inconclusive results of DNA barcoding, mosquitoes similar to Ae. cantans were designated as specimens of the Ae. annulipes group. In all, 2,091 mosquitoes (8.6% of all specimens collected) were as belonging to the Ae. annulipes group. These individuals were found throughout the warm months, but were most numerous in June. Voucher material was chosen from among specimens that best corresponded to the morphological traits of Ae. cantans and matched well with reliable DNA sequences in online databases.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Maps showing the historic and current collection points of individual mosquito species in Estonia. A, Aedes (Aedes) cinereus; B, Aedes (Aedimorphus) vexans; C, Aedes annulipes group; D, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) caspius; E, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) cataphylla; F, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) communis; G, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) cyprius; H, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) diantaeus. Numbers indicate original data and correspond to on the numbers in Fig. 1. Red diamonds indicate localities collected by Remm (1955). In cases where Remm indicated the species was widely distributed in Estonia, the area is shaded in gray.