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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web 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 See More
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 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Latin, gnat; akin to Old Irish cuil fly
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
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