Study Reveals Ancient Middle Eastern Origins of London Underground Mosquito

Genetic analysis shows the mosquito adapted to urban life thousands of years ago, predating modern subway systems.

The London Underground mosquito, Culex pipiens f. molestus, evolved in the Middle East over 1,000 years ago, likely in Egypt's Nile basin.
Research involving DNA analysis of nearly 800 mosquito samples from 44 countries shows its traits predate urban underground environments.
The mosquito likely adapted to human-dense agricultural societies in arid regions, utilizing irrigation systems for breeding and human hosts for sustenance.
Traits that enable the mosquito to thrive in confined urban spaces emerged long before the construction of subway systems like London's Tube.
The species is a known vector for diseases such as West Nile virus, and its hybridization with other mosquito forms could have public health implications.