Diversity and Distribution of Entomological Vectors (Ticks, Mosquitoes, Sandflies and Culicoides)]

Section: Zoology

Responsible staff: Alexander Weigand

Research strategy: Dynamic Archives of Nature; Understanding and Preserving Nature; Society and Natural History

Our research activities on the diversity and distribution of entomological vectors in Luxembourg are integrated into the European VectorNet network, established by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The aim is to improve preparedness and readiness for vector‑borne zoonoses in EU Member States. The focus is on the taxonomic groups of ticks (Acari, Ixodida), mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae), sandflies (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) and Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae).

With the help of taxonomic experts, the public, other national institutions (LiH, Directorate of Health, ALVA, LIST, HfN), targeted field activities, and by integrating material from the MNHNL zoological collection, the presence of populations, pathways of spread and seasonal dynamics of the target organisms in Luxembourg are recorded. The genetic expertise of the Zoology Department is also requested by other EU Member States to identify morphologically difficult specimens through DNA barcoding.

Recent publications :

Weigand A, Braun P (2025). Checklist of ticks (Parasitiformes; Ixodida; Ixodidae, Argasidae) in Luxembourg. Version 1.8. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/wwzej8

Schaffner, F., & Weigand, A. (2025). Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) found widespread but at low densities in Luxembourg. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association, 1(aop), 1-11.

Risueño, J., Bersihand, S., Bender, C., Cornen, T., De Boer, K., Ibáñez-Justicia, A., ... & Schaffner, F. (2024). A survey of Phlebotomine sand flies across their northern distribution range limit in Western Europe. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association, 1(aop), 1-11.

Schaffner, F., Kwaśnik, M., Rożek, W., Eritja, R., Lippert, S., Weigand, A., ... & Leszczyńska, J. (2024). A survey targeting exotic Aedes mosquito species in Central Europe, summer 2023, reveals the extensive occurrence of Aedes japonicus in Poland. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association, 1(aop), 1-15.

Christou, M., Lippert, S., Weigand, A., Angelidou, I., Athanasiou, K. C., Demetriou, J., ... & Martinou, A. F. (2023). First record of the invasive Asian tiger mosquitoAedes albopictus in Cyprus based on information collected by citizen scientists. Journal of the European Mosquito Control Association, 41(2), 55-62.

Schaffner, F., Weigand, A., & Ries, C. (2023). Atlas and catalogue of the mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) of Luxembourg. Musée national d'histoire naturelle. Ferrantia, Luxembourg, 127 pages. https://ps.mnhn.lu/ferrantia/publications/Ferrantia87.pdf (Pdf)

Weigand, A., Zaenker, S., Weber, D., Schaper, S., Bröker, M., Zaenker, C., & Chitimia-Dobler, L. (2023). Tick findings from subterranean environments in the Central German Uplands and Luxembourg reveal a predominance of male Ixodes hexagonus. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 89(3), 461-473.

Rubel, F., Brugger, K., Chitimia-Dobler, L., Dautel, H., Meyer-Kayser, E., & Kahl, O. (2021). Atlas of ticks (Acari: argasidae, ixodidae) in Germany. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 84(1), 183-214.

Zittra, C., Vitecek, S., Teixeira, J., Weber, D., Schindelegger, B., Schaffner, F., & Weigand, A. M. (2021). Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the dark—highlighting the importance of genetically identifying mosquito populations in subterranean environments of Central Europe. Pathogens, 10(9), 1090.

Weigand, A., Teixeira, J., & Christian, S. (2020). First record of Hyalomma marginatum sensu stricto CL Koch, 1844 and distribution of Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794)(Acari, Ixodidae) in Luxembourg. Bull. Société Nat. Luxemb, 122, 253-263.