Mosquitoes followed workers in the London Underground tunnels during the construction of the London Underground in the 19th century. Insects survived by consuming rodents and human blood. Mosquitoes established distinct populations that could not mingle because they were physically separated on various subway lines (Haba & McBride, 2022). The Central, Victoria, and Bakerloo mosquito lineages were all genetically unique (Haba & McBride, 2022). These mosquitos became used to living underground and have developed into a species that targets rodents and passengers rather than outside birds for the majority of its nutrition. The mosquitoes in the London Underground were also genetically distinct from their land-based counterparts, making them a classic example of human-driven evolution.
Culex pipiens molestus was the name given to this subterranean strain (Dunn, 2022). The activities of man, notably the creation of metro lines with their own climate and specific circumstances, were necessary for this evolution. The changes can be explained as an adaptation to subterranean existence, which necessitates the capacity to reproduce in a tight environment. Because there is no requirement for hibernation in the winter, nutrients may be absorbed more easily from the larval stage or mammals rather than birds (Dunn, 2022). Moreover, since below-ground populations are significantly less tightly grouped than above-ground populations, it is possible that gene flow is restricted or that genetic drift is higher (Haba & McBride, 2022). The physical isolation of the ecosystems also makes interbreeding with terrestrial species much more difficult. Destructive selection for fundamental adaptations to above- and below-ground habitats, as well as population isolation, are hypothesized to contribute to reproductive isolation, which might be achieved by pleiotropy and genetic transfers (Dunn, 2022). Overall, the evolution of the mosquitos was driven by humanity, and now this mosquito breed is widely known around the world.
References
Dunn, R. (2022). Evolution’s Urban Hothouse. New Scientist, 253(3377), 42-45.
Haba, Y., & McBride, L. (2022). Origin and status of Culex pipiens mosquito ecotypes. Current Biology, 32(5), 237-246.