---

Hi,
The cellar of the house of my parents-in-law in southern Brandenburg serves as wintering grounds for hundreds of mosquitoes. Most of them seem to belong to the same taxon, and I wonder if it is Culex. Can we find out a species name? I remember that Tony wrote a long time ago that C. pipiens females do not suck blood of humans but prefer birds. However, in the last weeks one could not stay in the garden without using a repellent, as the flies were very aggressive.
The photos are from November 2011.
Thanks in advance, Sundew

---

They do look like Culex. As far as biting is concerned, there is a form of pipiens called molestus which does bite people. Also Culex modestus is spreading (though I'm not sure if it's reached Germany). It too is a viscious biter.