Updated checklist with new records and molecular data for the mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Hong Kong

An extensive mosquito survey was carried out in Hong Kong from September to October 2022, employing a variety of collection methods. Specimens were identified using a combination of morphology and mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1(COI) barcode sequences. Twenty-nine species, including three new records, i.e., Culex bicornutus(Theobald), Culex cinctellusEdwards, and Lutzia chiangmaiensisSomboon & Harbach, were collected. Phylogenetic analysis of COIsequences of Culex annulusTheobald and Culex vishnuiTheobald collected in Hong Kong and elsewhere revealed that the sequences of the two nominal species are genetically very similar and are included in the same clade. Consequently, the synonymy of Cx. annuluswith Cx. vishnuiis reinstated. Lutzia halifaxii(Theobald) is removed from the list of species in Hong Kong and is replaced with Lutzia voraxEdwards, the identification of which is confirmed in the present study. The record of Culex spiculothoraxBram recorded in Hong Kong is replaced with the senior synonym Culex sasaiKano, Nitahara & Awaya. The occurrence of Anopheles fluviatilisJames and Aedes aegypti(Linnaeus) is discussed. Finally, an updated checklist of the mosquitoes of Hong Kong, which now includes 76 species representing 14 genera, is provided, with notation of those species that vector pathogens of human diseases.