The intracellular endosymbiont bacterium Wolbachia is currently considered the most abundant in arthropods and has also been isolated from nematodes, amphipods, isopods, mites and spiders. Recently, Wolbachia-based research was focused on the control of disease vector-population, such as several mosquitoes such as genus Aedes and Anopheles which cause dengue fever and malaria, respectively. For the analysis of regional difference between vector mosquito Aedes albopictus and Wolbachia, we selected different regions and collected Ae. albopictus which were distinguished with mountain chain and waterway. Whole genomic DNA were extracted from collected specimens with 9 regions. PCR analysis and sequencing were accomplished in each specimen for Wolbachia detection and identification using WSP gene. As a results, almost mosquitoes were infected with two strain of Wolbachia both wAlbA and wAlbB. However, regional separation of vector mosquitoes, wAlbA strain of Wolbachia were showed more than 98% sequence similarity. In this study, we first reported that Wolbachia infection and type of Wolbachia in Korea and endosymbiont Wolbachia was showed highly sequence homologies.
Habitats for migratory birds provide good blood source for blood sucking insects including mosquitoes, which may lead to high population mosquito species. This study was intended to know mosquito fauna in habitats for migratory birds that have preference for bird’s blood. We selected 7 locations for migratory birds (Ansan: a great reedy marsh in lake of Shihwa; Cheonan, Gyeongju, and Pyeongtaek: pine forest; Seosan: a reclaimed land near bay of Cheonsu ; Ulsan: great bamboo forest around Teahwa river) and subdivided each location with four habitats (forest, swamp, cow shed and downtown area) as mosquito collecting site. We used two types of trap for mosquito collection such as CDC black light trap and BG Sentinel trap. Additionally, we use black light and dry ice as an attractive source, respectively. A total of 27,615 mosquitoes representing 9 genera and 18 species were collected. In Ansan, 9 genera and 17 species were collected and in the other locations only 11 to 12 species. Representing by habitats shows this; in forest 9 genera and 17 species, in swamp 8 genera and 16 species, in cow shed 6 genera and 12 species, in downtown 8 genera and 17 species. The dominant species was Culex pipiens (60%) followed by Aedes vexans (11%), Anopheles spp. (8%), Aedes albopictus (7%), and Armigeres subalbatus (5%).