culex

[kyoo-leks]

noun

plural

culices 

1. any of numerous mosquitoes constituting the widespread genus Culex, distinguished by the habit in the adult of holding the body parallel to the feeding or resting surface, as the common house mosquito, C. pipiens.

culex

/ ˈkjuːlɛks /

noun

1. any mosquito of the genus Culex, such as C. pipiens, the common mosquito

Other Word Forms

• culicine adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of culex¹

< New Latin (Linnaeus); Latin: gnat, midge

Word History and Origins

Origin of culex¹

C15: from Latin: midge, gnat; related to Old Irish cuil gnat

Example Sentences

Of particular concern right now are native Culex mosquitoes, which can transmit deadly West Nile virus, Diaz said.

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Culex mosquitoes typically target birds rather than humans, and tend to be satisfied with one slurp of blood, making them comparatively less annoying than Aedes mosquitoes.

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Mosquito control experts tout sterilization for being environmentally friendly because it doesn’t involve spraying chemicals and officials could potentially use it to target other disease spreaders — such as the region’s native Culex mosquito, a carrier of the deadly West Nile virus.

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Culex pipiens, the common house mosquito, has been found to carry and transmit the Usutu virus, originally discovered in the 1950s in Africa and present in Europe for the past three decades.

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Six types of mosquitoes are found in California, but only the Culex mosquito can carry West Nile virus.

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