Culex (Phalangomyia) apicinus Philippi, 1865

González, Christian R., Reyes-Valenzuela, Carolina, Rossi, Gustavo C. & Laurito, Magdalena, 2023, Revalidation of Phalangomyia Dyar & Knab as a subgenus of Culex L. (Diptera: Culicidae) based on morphological and molecular evidence, Zootaxa 5256 (6), pp. 544-564 : 552

Culex (Phalangomyia) apicinus Philippi, 1865

( Figs 1–3 )

Culex apicinus Philippi, 1865: 596 (A). Type locality: Santiago, Chile (NE). Refs: Dyar 1928: 360 (M*, F, L*, as Culex (Phalangomyia )); Edwards 1932: 206 (as Culex (Culex )); Lane 1953: 341 (M*, F, L*); Forattini 1965: 143 (M*, F); Bram 1967: 26 (M*, F, L; syn.); Belkin, 1968 (type info.).

Phalangomyia debilis Dyar & Knab, 1914: 58 (M*, F). Type locality: Matucana, (Lima), Peru (USNM). Refs: Dyar 1926: 42 (as Culex (Phalangomyia )); Dyar 1928: 359 (M*, F, L*); Edwards 1930: 107, 1932: 206 (syn. with Cx. apicinus Philippi , as Culex (Culex )).

Culex escomeli Brèthes, 1920: 41 (M*, F). Type locality: Arequipa, Peru (NE). Refs: Dyar 1926: 42 (as Culex (Phalangomyia )); Dyar 1928: 359 (M*, F, L*); Edwards 1930: 107, 1932: 206 (syn. with Cx. apicinus Philippi , as Culex (Culex )).

Culex (Phalangomyia) alticola Martini, 1931: 216 (A). Type locality: Serrata, 2,300 m, Bolivia (NHM). Refs: Lane 1953: 341 (M*, F, L; syn. with Cx. apicinus Philippi ); Stone 1957: 340 (M*); Belkin 1968: 12 (tax.); Bram 1967: 24, 27 (syn.).

Diagnosis. Diagnostic morphological characteristics of Cx. apicinus , contrasted with other species of the subgenus Culex , are as follows ( Table 2 ). Adult: Flagellomere 1 of antenna with scales on median border ( Fig. 1A ). Proboscis longer than forefemur. Maxillary palpus of female dark brown, with white-scales ( Fig. 1A, B ). Scutum with 2 narrow denuded stripes between acrostichal and dorsocentral setae; acrostichal, dorsocentral, and supra-alar setae dark brown ( Fig. 1C ). Wing with white scale-spot near middle of veins M 2 and M 3 ( Fig. 1D ). Forefemur (2.23–3.01 mm) longer than foretarsomere 1 (1.00– 1.84 mm). Foretarsomere 1 as long as sum of length of foretarsomeres 2–5. Terga II‒VII dark brown-scaled with a complete basal band of pale scales ( Fig. 1E ). Female genitalia: Upper vaginal lip and sclerite strongly sclerotized, cerci longer than postgenital lobe. Male genitalia: Tergum VIII deeply emarginate. Gonocoxite with 8–20 strong apicolateral setae ( Fig. 2A ). Subapical lobe with 2 setae: A large leaflet with serration on distal margin and ending in a long filament (seta h), and the other tubular, ending in 2 open arms (seta g) ( Fig. 2B ). Median lobe partially divided: Larger proximal part bearing 9–28 strong rod-like setae and 2–3 normal setae and the small distal part bearing a strong apically hooked seta, a longer stout seta with a bent fimbriate apex and a shorter stout seta with tip bifurcate ( Fig. 2C ). Gonostylus with a spiny apical crest ( Fig. 2A ), with 5–8 subapical setae ( Fig. 2D ). Dorsal arm of phallosome short ( Fig. 2E ). Paraproct with a small basolateral arm ( Fig. 2E ), with 7–20 cercal setae not visible in Fig. 2E ), IXth tergal lobe with 2–13 setae in 1 or 2 rows. Pupa: Trumpet conical ( Fig. 3A ) opening wide, large and oval. At least alveolus of seta 13-III–VI present and paddle with minute spicules on the surface ( Fig. 3B ). Larva (fourth instar): Head, segment X and siphon heavily tanned ( Fig. 3C ). Siphon unique ( Fig. 3C ), as follows: siphon index 2.50–3.33 (mean 2.94), pecten on basal 0.60, with 5–11 spines, seta 1-S usually in 5 pairs, 1a, 1b-S inserted between pecten spines, 1e/f-S out of line.

Distribution. Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Female of Culex apicinus. A, Head, antenna and maxillary palpus (lateral view); B, clypeus and maxillary palpus (frontal view); C, scutum; D, wing (distal portion); E, terga (pale banding). AcS, acrostichal setae; CE, compound eye; Clp, clypeus; DS, dorsocentral setae; Flm1, flagellomere 1; IV–VIII-Te, terga IV–VIII; MPlp, maxillary palpus; Occ, occiput; V, vertex. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 2. Male genitalia of Culex apicinus. A, Gonocoxopodite; B: subapical lobe of gonocoxite (setae); C, median lobe of gonocoxite (setae); D, gonostylus; E, phallosome and proctiger. BLA, basolateral arm; DA, dorsal arm; DP, dorsal process; dML, distal medial lobe; Gc, gonocoxite; GC, gonostylar claw; Gs, gonostylus; LA, lateral arm; ML, median lobe; pML, proximal median lobe; Pr, proctiger; SL, subapical lobe; VA, ventral arm.

FIGURE 3. Pupa (A, B) and fourth-instar larva (C) of Culex apicinus.A, trumpet; B, paddle; C, larva in dorsal view, and details. 1,2,3-C, setae of head; 1,2a, setae of siphon; 2-S, seta of siphon; CS, comb scales; PS, pecten spines.