culex
noun
cu·lex
ˈkyü-ˌleks 
: any of a large cosmopolitan genus (Culex) of mosquitoes that includes the common house mosquito (C. pipiens) of Europe and North America and vectors of the viruses causing Saint Louis encephalitis and West Nile virus
Examples of culex in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Kansas Biological Survey has recorded 54 species in the Kansas City area, with the most common being the culex.
—
Cynthia Billhartz Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024
Weld County health officials said the virus had been identified in culex mosquitoes.
—Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 2 Aug. 2019
The county has 14 traps in various locations to track activity among culex mosquitoes, which carry West Nile.
—Naperville Sun, 12 June 2019
Aedes infirmatus mosquitos as well as other aedes and culex species have also known to carry the virus, the Florida Department of Health said.
—Ashley May, USA TODAY, 25 June 2018
West Nile Virus is transmitted through the bite of a culex pipiens mosquito that encountered the disease by biting an infected bird, according to the release.
—Alexandra Kukulka, chicagotribune.com, 30 May 2018
The culex mosquito can also carry West Nile virus and Japanese encephalitis.
—Molly Sullivan, sacbee, 7 Aug. 2017
Deutsch said one of the species populations the department was hoping to reduce is the culex quinquefasciatus, also known as the Southern house mosquito, which can carry a variety of illnesses including strains of encephalitis and West Nile.
—Harry Sayer, OrlandoSentinel.com, 31 July 2017
Though no mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been found or human cases reported thus far in Kane County, Schlueter said that current hot and humid conditions are those in which the culex mosquito, which carries that disease, thrive.
—Mike Danahey, Elgin Courier-News, 12 June 2017
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Cynthia Billhartz Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024
Weld County health officials said the virus had been identified in culex mosquitoes.
—Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 2 Aug. 2019
The county has 14 traps in various locations to track activity among culex mosquitoes, which carry West Nile.
—Naperville Sun, 12 June 2019
Aedes infirmatus mosquitos as well as other aedes and culex species have also known to carry the virus, the Florida Department of Health said.
—Ashley May, USA TODAY, 25 June 2018
West Nile Virus is transmitted through the bite of a culex pipiens mosquito that encountered the disease by biting an infected bird, according to the release.
—Alexandra Kukulka, chicagotribune.com, 30 May 2018
The culex mosquito can also carry West Nile virus and Japanese encephalitis.
—Molly Sullivan, sacbee, 7 Aug. 2017
Deutsch said one of the species populations the department was hoping to reduce is the culex quinquefasciatus, also known as the Southern house mosquito, which can carry a variety of illnesses including strains of encephalitis and West Nile.
—Harry Sayer, OrlandoSentinel.com, 31 July 2017
Though no mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been found or human cases reported thus far in Kane County, Schlueter said that current hot and humid conditions are those in which the culex mosquito, which carries that disease, thrive.
—Mike Danahey, Elgin Courier-News, 12 June 2017
Cite this Entry
“Culex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culex. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
culex
noun
cu·lex
ˈkyü-ˌleks
: any of a large genus of mosquitoes that includes the common house mosquito of Europe and North America
Medical Definition
culex
noun
cu·lex
ˈkyü-ˌleks
1
capitalized
: a large cosmopolitan genus of mosquitoes that includes the common house mosquito (C. pipiens) of Europe and North America, a widespread tropical mosquito (C. quinquefasciatus synonym C. fatigans) which transmits some filarial worms parasitic in humans, and other mosquitoes which are vectors of the viruses causing Japanese B encephalitis, Murray Valley encephalitis, Saint Louis encephalitis, and West Nile fever
2
: a mosquito of the genus Culex
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