Guldtömygga (Aedes (Ochlerotatus) cyprius Ludlow, 1920) (Diptera: Culicidae) påträffad i Sverige för första gången på 50 år

Abstract

We report the first observations of Aedes (Ochlerotatus) cyprius Ludlow, 1920 in Sweden in 50 years. Aedes (Ochlerotatus) cyprius, is a rare species of biting mosquito across its European range. It overwinters as eggs in soil depressions that fill with meltwater and rain in spring, with adults emerging in late May to early June. The species prefers deeper pools (50–80 cm) and feeds on both humans and animals. Morphologically, it is distinguished by its pale, golden-scaled body and can be confused with Aedes flavescens and Aedes excrucians, though key traits such as scutum coloration and mesepimeral bristles aid identification. Historical records in Sweden date back to the early 1800s, with sporadic findings across southern and northern regions until the last confirmed sighting in 1973. The known history of Ae. cyprius in Sweden, from the beginning of the 19th century until today is detailed. After a 50-year absence, the species reappeared in Uppsala in 2023, with multiple individuals observed and collected for DNA barcoding. Continued sightings in 2024, including individuals from a possible second generation in July, suggest a potential shift in life cycle dynamics. However, no observations were made in 2025, likely due to unfavorable dry weather conditions. The recent resurgence raises hope for future reappearances and highlights the need for further ecological and distributional studies of this conspicuous yet overlooked mosquito species.