DISTRIBUTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF CULEX PIPIENS LINNAEUS, 1758 (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE) IN THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ.

The specimens utilized for this investigation comprise adult individuals of Culex pipiens and their immature forms. The Culex pipiens mosquitoes are captured using a net trap, while larvae are collected using conventional dipping techniques. The samples are selected at random from fourteen locations in the provinces of the Kurdistan area of Iraq, specifically Erbil, Duhok, Sulaimaniyah and Halabja. From September 15, 2020 to November 20, 2021, a total of 291 female Culex pipiens mosquitoes were collected from the four provinces stated above. The breakdown of the samples is as follows: 135 from one province, 82 from another province, 23 from a third province, and 51 from the fourth province. The diagnosis key is provided for adult individuals and fourth-stage larvae, which originate from a species of mosquito. To illustrate this study, a concise morphological description was utilized, and photos were included to provide a vivid depiction. The findings of the present investigation indicate that adult females had a greater wing length compared to males. The wing length of females ranged from 3.3 to 4 mm, with an average of 3.55 mm. When adult Culex pipiens were looked at, the costa and sub-costal intersections were found at or beyond the point where R2+3 splits in most of the samples. The siphons of fourth-instar larvae are elongated and taper gradually towards the end. On average, their length is 1.4 mm, with a range of 1.3 to 1.5 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]