Reverse identification key for mosquito species
This key provides the non-specialist with reference material to help recognise an invasive mosquito species and gives details on the morphology to help with verification.
Executive summary
More and more people are getting involved in the surveillance of invasive mosquito species in the EU/EEA, not just professionals with formal training in entomology. There are many taxonomic keys available for identifying mosquitoes of medical and veterinary importance, but they are almost all designed for professionally trained entomologists.
This key provides the non-specialist with reference material to help recognise an invasive mosquito species and gives details on the morphology (in the species-specific pages) to help with verification and the compiling of a final list of candidates. The key displays six invasive / exotic mosquito species that are present in the EU/EEA or have been intercepted in the past. It also contains 16 native species. The native species have been selected (1) based on their morphological similarity with the invasive species; (2) on the likelihood of encountering them; and (3) to include representatives of all mosquito genera present in Europe.
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Translated versions
Bestimmungsschlüssel zur Identifizierung von Stechmückenarten anhand von Bildern (DE)
(unofficial German translation of the July 2022 version of ‘Reverse identification key for mosquito species’)
Translation provided by the Urban Pest Advisory Service City of Zürich.
ECDC accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies or mistakes incurred as a result of the translation.
Soortzoeker Invasieve Steekmuggen (Culicidae) in Europa (NL)
(unofficial Dutch translation of the May 2021 version of ‘Reverse identification key for mosquito species’)
Translation provided by ‘Centrum Monitoring Vectoren’ of NVWA.
ECDC accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies or mistakes incurred as a result of the translation. Note that the current July 2022 (English) version includes seven more species than and some minor corrections to the May 2021 version.
Clé d' identification « inversée » pour les espèces de moustiques (FR)
(unofficial French translation of the July 2022 version of ‘Reverse identification key for mosquito species’)
Translation provided by the Urban Pest Advisory Service City of Zürich (Stadt Zürich, Fachstelle Schädlingsprävention) and Guillaume Lacour, Altopictus. ECDC accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies or mistakes incurred as a result of the translation.
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Reverse identification key for mosquito species
This key provides the non-specialist with reference material to help recognise an invasive mosquito species and gives details on the morphology to help with verification.