Research Article

Molecular confirmation of Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex torrentium Martini, 1925 (Diptera: Culicidae), and Culiseta longiareolata Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Culicidae) using ITS2 DNA barcoding

Volume: 19 Number: 3 September 15, 2026
TR EN

Molecular confirmation of Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex torrentium Martini, 1925 (Diptera: Culicidae), and Culiseta longiareolata Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Culicidae) using ITS2 DNA barcoding

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to identify Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex torrentium Martini, 1925 (Diptera: Culicidae), and Culiseta longiareolata Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Culicidae) species using the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region of ribosomal DNA and to provide molecular characterization of these species. Method: Mosquito samples collected in Kocaeli between 2017 and 2020 were used in the study. Genomic DNA isolated from the samples was amplified by PCR using suitable primers for ITS2. Agarose gel electrophoresis results of the ITS2 region revealed different band lengths among the species, consistent with the structure of ITS2 exhibiting length polymorphism. The ITS2 sequences obtained from DNA sequencing were submitted to GenBank and compared with reference sequences in the NCBI database. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using MEGA X software with 1000 bootstrap replicates. Findings: Sequence analysis and phylogenetic tree construction confirmed that the analyzed samples belonged to Culex pipiens, Culex torrentium, and Culiseta longiareolata. The ITS2 region revealed length polymorphism across species on agarose gel and proved particularly effective in distinguishing between the morphologically similar species Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium. Conclusion: The ITS2 region of ribosomal DNA is a reliable molecular marker for the identification and characterization of these three mosquito species, especially for discriminating between Culex pipiens and Culex torrentium, which are difficult to differentiate based on morphology alone.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Scientific Research Project Unit of Kocaeli University

Project Number

2019-042

Ethical Statement

This study does not require ethical approval.

Thanks

We would like to thank the scientific research project unit of Kocaeli University (Project number: 2019-042).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Entomology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 15, 2026

Submission Date

June 17, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 15, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 19 Number: 3

APA
Polat, F., & Dede, S. (2026). Molecular confirmation of Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex torrentium Martini, 1925 (Diptera: Culicidae), and Culiseta longiareolata Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Culicidae) using ITS2 DNA barcoding. Biological Diversity and Conservation, 19(3), 304-311. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2026.1973521
AMA
1.Polat F, Dede S. Molecular confirmation of Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex torrentium Martini, 1925 (Diptera: Culicidae), and Culiseta longiareolata Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Culicidae) using ITS2 DNA barcoding. BioDiCon. 2026;19(3):304-311. doi:10.46309/biodicon.2026.1973521
Chicago
Polat, Fikriye, and Serkan Dede. 2026. “Molecular Confirmation of Culex Pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex Torrentium Martini, 1925 (Diptera: Culicidae), and Culiseta Longiareolata Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Culicidae) Using ITS2 DNA Barcoding”. Biological Diversity and Conservation 19 (3): 304-11. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2026.1973521.
EndNote
Polat F, Dede S (September 1, 2026) Molecular confirmation of Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex torrentium Martini, 1925 (Diptera: Culicidae), and Culiseta longiareolata Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Culicidae) using ITS2 DNA barcoding. Biological Diversity and Conservation 19 3 304–311.
IEEE
[1]F. Polat and S. Dede, “Molecular confirmation of Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex torrentium Martini, 1925 (Diptera: Culicidae), and Culiseta longiareolata Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Culicidae) using ITS2 DNA barcoding”, BioDiCon, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 304–311, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.46309/biodicon.2026.1973521.
ISNAD
Polat, Fikriye - Dede, Serkan. “Molecular Confirmation of Culex Pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex Torrentium Martini, 1925 (Diptera: Culicidae), and Culiseta Longiareolata Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Culicidae) Using ITS2 DNA Barcoding”. Biological Diversity and Conservation 19/3 (September 1, 2026): 304-311. https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2026.1973521.
JAMA
1.Polat F, Dede S. Molecular confirmation of Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex torrentium Martini, 1925 (Diptera: Culicidae), and Culiseta longiareolata Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Culicidae) using ITS2 DNA barcoding. BioDiCon. 2026;19:304–311.
MLA
Polat, Fikriye, and Serkan Dede. “Molecular Confirmation of Culex Pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex Torrentium Martini, 1925 (Diptera: Culicidae), and Culiseta Longiareolata Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Culicidae) Using ITS2 DNA Barcoding”. Biological Diversity and Conservation, vol. 19, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 304-11, doi:10.46309/biodicon.2026.1973521.
Vancouver
1.Fikriye Polat, Serkan Dede. Molecular confirmation of Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex torrentium Martini, 1925 (Diptera: Culicidae), and Culiseta longiareolata Macquart, 1838 (Diptera: Culicidae) using ITS2 DNA barcoding. BioDiCon. 2026 Sep. 1;19(3):304-11. doi:10.46309/biodicon.2026.1973521

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