An updated checklist of the mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Algeria based on records published from 1903 to 2021 is presented. Fifty-three species belonging to seven genera are known with reasonable confidence to occur in the country, including Aedes (15 species), Anopheles (15), Coquillettidia (2), Culex (14), Culiseta (5), Orthopodomyia (1) and Uranotaenia (1). Two additional species, Culex simpsoni Theobald, 1905 and Uranotaenia balfouri Theobald, 1904, are provisionally regarded as present in Algeria. Published records are listed for each species, with indication of synonymous usage and variant spelling of names where applicable. The type locality of Aedes biskraensis Brunhes, 1999 is restricted to Seriana in Sidi Okba District in Biskra Province. Problematic species and doubtful occurrence records based on apparently misidentified specimens and confused taxonomy are discussed. Notes on taxonomy and medical importance are provided for the more important species.
The application of geometric morphometry on mosquito wings (Culicidae) is considered a powerful tool for evaluating correlations between the phenotype (e.g., shape) and environmental or genetic variables. However, this has not been used to study the wings of the avian malaria vector, Culiseta longiareolata. Therefore, the goal of this study is to investigate the intra-specific wing variations between male and female Cs. longiareolata populations in different types of larval habitats and climatic conditions in Algeria. A total of 256 Cs. longiareolata mosquito samples were collected from January 2020 to July 2021 in three cities (Annaba, El-Tarf, and Guelma) of northeastern Algeria that have two distinct climatic condition levels (sub-humid and sub-arid) and different types of larval habitats (artificial and natural). Nineteen (19) wing landmarks (LMs) were digitized and analyzed based on geometric morphometry. Our results revealed differences in the wing shape of female and male mosquito populations, indicating sexual dimorphism. Moreover, canonical variance analysis (CVA) showed that factors, such as climatic conditions and type of larval habitats, also affect the wing shape of female and male Cs. longiareolata mosquito populations. Furthermore, the wing shape of male populations was more distinct compared with female populations.
1 June 2025 in Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics
Mosquitoes (Culicidae) are hematophagous insects that play a major role as vectors of diverse pathogens affecting human health. Understanding their distribution and diversity is essential for assessing pathogen risks and developing control strategies. This study investigated the Culicid fauna in the semi-humid region of northeastern Algeria (Annaba-El Tarf) over a period from ...
1 December 2024 in Acta Musei Silesiae, Scientiae Naturales
An investigation into the biodiversity of Cynipidae galls (Hymenoptera) residing within the oak forests of the Edough massif in Annaba (northeast Algeria) spanned from October 2016 to September 2019, aimed to update the faunal list of galls, assess their specialization and organ preferences, and evaluate the impact of seasonal fluctuations on their abundance. A total of 19783 galls were collected, belonging to 13 different species on both Q. faginea and Q. suber . All the oak Cynipidae galls collected belonged to eight genera: Andricus , Synophrus , Callirhytis , Cynips , Cerroneuroterus , Neuroterus , Plagiotrochus and Pseudoneuroterus . Abundance peaked during winter, contrasting with significantly lower levels in summer. The gall population exhibited a diverse and balanced distribution during spring (H=2.35; E=0.74). However, it was very low in summer (H=0.51; E=0.26). The results obtained thus are added to the available data concerning Cynipidae galls on oak trees ( Q. suber and Q. faginea ) in Algeria. This emphasizes the need for further research aimed at enhancing our comprehension of this specific population.
A review of all published records of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) in Algeria from 1849 to 2025 was conducted. Each record was evaluated using a four-level reliability scale based on methodological details, presence of diagnostic illustrations, availability of voucher specimens and molecular confirmation. Regional comparisons with Tunisia and Morocco were also undertaken. Nineteen records were identified over 176 years; however, none satisfied the high-reliability criteria. All reports relied solely on morphological identification, lacked diagnostic images and provided neither voucher specimens nor molecular evidence. The establishment of Ae. albopictus (Skuse, 1895) in Algeria complicates the interpretation of recent records attributed to Ae. aegypti, especially when based solely on morphological criteria. Consequently, although historical records indicate that Ae. aegypti was certainly present in Algeria in the past, there is currently no confirmed evidence supporting its contemporary presence.