taxonID	type	description	language	source
03C644449C01D4484EA90B92DFA8FC12.taxon	description	A single adult male (A 39528) of Cx. (Eum.) malayensis was reared from a larva collected on 2 January 2024 from a rock pool between Shillong and Mawsynram, East Khasi Hills (25.374599 N; 91.634505 E, 1,495 m a. s. l.). The specimen, slightly damaged during emergence, was identified by comparing dissected antennae and genitalia with the original species description of Sirivanakarn (1972). Culex malayensis was described from specimens from Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah. Diagnosis. The maxillary palpus of the male exceeds the proboscis by the full length of palpomere 5. The antenna lacks minor whorls of short setae on flagellomeres 1 – 11 (Fig. 2 a). The gonocoxite lacks submarginal setae and does not have a leaflet on the subapical lobe. The subapical lobe is undivided, with 3 slender proximal rods, a fine hair-like seta and 3 narrow blade-like setae; leaflets are absent. The gonostylus is stout, slightly curved medially and bears a long, hooked subapical claw (Fig. 2 b). The phallosome is unsclerotized with broad-based lateral plates tapering into a blunt apex. The median spine is simple, and the lateral margins lack denticles or acute projections (Fig. 2 c). This differs from the description of Sirivanakarn (1972), which denotes a strongly sclerotized phallosome, apically forked spines and acute lateral angles. Comparisons were also made with Afrotropical species of the Rubinotus-rima Group (Sirivanakarn 1971) of the subgenus Eumelanomyia (classified as species of Neoculex Dyar, 1905 in Edwards 1941), further supporting identification as Cx. malayensis. Morphologically, Cx. malayensis resembles Cx. simplicicornis Edwards, 1930 and Cx. jefferyi Sirivanakarn, 1977 a but differs by lacking submarginal setae and possessing an oval, unsclerotized phallosome. It also lacks the large spine-like process of the lateral plate seen in Cx. jefferyi. Ecologically, Cx. malayensis is associated with freshwater habitats, unlike Cx. jefferyi, which is restricted to coastal areas. In this study, larvae were found in shaded forest rock pools.	en	Gopalakrishnan, S., Natarajan, R., Shriram, A. N., Kumar, Ashwani, Rahi, Manju (2025): Diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Meghalaya State, India, with notes on seven new country records. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 337-366, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2
03C644449C01D4564EA90F72DCBEFEE2.taxon	description	A total of 58 specimens (9 F, 7 M, 5 MG, 6 Le, 25 L) of Cx. macrostylus were examined. Among these, two females and one male were associated with larval and pupal exuviae. Seven females and four males were collected resting inside man-made sandy caves, while others were reared from immature stages collected between July 2022 and January 2024 from diverse habitats, including turbid pools inside man-made caves, stream pools, a cement tank, rock pools and a swamp. Collections were made near Jarain in the Jaintia Hills (25.389822 N; 92.142540 E, 1,314 m a. s. l.; 25.389945 N; 92.147489 E, 1,295 m a. s. l.; 25.246460 N; 91.731046 E, 1,149 m a. s. l.) and Mawsmai in the Khasi Hills (25.505226 N; 91.812965 E, 1,644 m a. s. l.), Meghalaya State, India. Specimens were compared with original descriptions of Sirivanakarn & Ramalingam (1976) and Harbach & Rattanarithikul (1988). Culex macrostylus was previously known only from Malaysia. Diagnosis. The adult female of Cx. macrostylus is illustrated in Fig. 2 d. Males are distinguishable from other members of the Tenuipalpis Subgroup (Mochthogenes Group, subgenus Eumelanomyia) by the following morphological features: A conspicuously large, broad gonocoxite; a subapical lobe with one prominent flattened blade-like seta and about 10 lanceolate setae; and a large, goose-head-shaped gonostylus (Fig. 2 e). Based on male, female and larval characteristics, Cx. macrostylus is placed within a complex of six closely related species: Culex tenuipalpis Barraud, 1924 a, Cx. richei Klein, 1970, Cx. hayashii Yamada, 1917, Cx. hackeri Edwards, 1923, Cx. kiriensis Klein & Sirivanakarn, 1970 and Cx. oresbius Harbach & Rattanarithikul, 1988. Among these species, Cx. macrostylus resembles Cx. hackeri, Cx. kiriensis and Cx. oresbius by its short male maxillary palpus, approximately 0.2 times the length of the proboscis, and the broad oval shape of the lateral plate of the male phallosome. However, Cx. kiriensis has a lateral plate that is distinctly tapered into a pointed or blunt apex. Culex macrostylus differs by having a distinct subapical lobe and a broader lateral plate. Larvae are identified by a strongly tapered siphon that curves upward distally and bears 7 pairs of setae (Fig. 2 f). The setae are 4 – 5 times wider than the diameter of the siphon at the point of attachment, resembling Cx. tenuipalpis and Cx. hackeri, but differing from Cx. hayashii and Cx. richei, which have slender siphons. Culex macrostylus larvae differ from Cx. tenuipalpis and Cx. hackeri by a stronger, subequal seta 8 - P, triple-branched seta 6 - III – VI seta and more siphonal setae. Harbach & Rattanarithikul (1988) noted that Cx. macrostylus and Cx. oresbius differ in features of the male genitalia but not in characteristics of the larval and pupal stages. They proposed that the two species may represent geographical variants of a single species, as Cx. macrostylus is known from Malaysia and Cx. oresbius from Thailand, approximately 1,800 km apart.	en	Gopalakrishnan, S., Natarajan, R., Shriram, A. N., Kumar, Ashwani, Rahi, Manju (2025): Diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Meghalaya State, India, with notes on seven new country records. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 337-366, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2
03C644449C1FD4564EA90A23DFF1FB3A.taxon	description	A total of 39 specimens (1 F with LePe, 1 M, 35 L) of Cx. hayashii were collected from a cement tank and stream pools in Mawsmai, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya State (25.246460 N; 91.731046 E, 1149 m a. s. l) on 01. I. 2024. Culex hayashii was originally described from Japan and has also been reported from Korea, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan and the former U. S. S. R. The specimens collected in the present study were examined and compared with the illustrations and descriptions provided by Sirivanakarn (1972) and Tanaka et al. (1979). Diagnosis. Within the Tenuipalpis Subgroup, Cx. hayashii closely resembles Cx. tenuipalpis and Cx. richei in possessing a long male maxillary palpus, approximately 0.5 times the length of the proboscis. However, it can be distinctly separated from Cx. tenuipalpis based on characters of the male genitalia, pupa and larva. In Cx. hayashii, the gonostylus lacks the 2 – 4 very small setae typically found in the basal half; the lateral plate of the phallosome is somewhat pointed apically and bears fewer denticles, all confined to the inner tergal surface (Fig. 2 h). Nevertheless, variation in the number and arrangement of denticles has been reported by Tanaka et al. (1979). In contrast, Cx. tenuipalpis exhibits 2 – 4 very small setae in the basal half of the gonostylus, and the lateral plate of the phallosome bears approximately 20 strong denticles. The male of Cx. hayashii can be distinguished from Cx. richei by the presence or absence of a submarginal seta on the gonocoxite (Fig. 2 g), whereas Cx. richei possesses 3 – 5 submarginal setae in this region. In the pupa of Cx. hayashii, seta 5 - IV is 3 - branched and seta 6 - III – VI has four branches, whereas in Cx. tenuipalpis seta 5 - IV and seta 6 - III – VI are bifid. Larval characteristics of Cx. hayashii are illustrated in Fig. 2 i – l: Seta 6 - III – VI has 3 or 4 branches (Fig. 2 j) and the siphon is slender, not curved upwards, with siphonal setae that are weaker and shorter, particularly the first five setae, which measure about 2 ‒ 3 times longer than the diameter of the siphon at the point of attachment (Fig. 2 k). In comparison, Cx. tenuipalpis larvae have seta 6 - III – VI double and the siphon is strongly tapered and curves upwards distally, with the first 3 or 4 setae 4 or 5 times longer than the diameter of the siphon at the point of attachment.	en	Gopalakrishnan, S., Natarajan, R., Shriram, A. N., Kumar, Ashwani, Rahi, Manju (2025): Diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Meghalaya State, India, with notes on seven new country records. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 337-366, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2
03C644449C1FD4564EA90E5BDF62F91E.taxon	description	Two adult males (A 39468, A 39625) were reared from larvae collected in a cement tank located between Shillong and Cherrapunji (25.246460 N; 91.73104 E, 1,149 m a. s. l) in East Khasi Hills on 01. I. 2024. Culex richei is previously known only from Cambodia and Thailand. The two males, with antennae and genitalia mounted on microscope slides, were examined and compared with the descriptions by Klein (1970) and Sirivanakarn (1972), as well as the detailed descriptions and characterization of previously unknown life stages provided by Harbach & Mongkolpanya (1988). Diagnosis. Culex richei belongs to the Tenuipalpis Subgroup and the male is characterized by a maxillary palpus approximately 0.75 times the length of the proboscis (Fig. 2 m). Culex richei can be readily distinguished from all other species within this subgroup by the presence of 4 or 5 linear submarginal setae on the gonocoxite (Fig. 2 n). The phallosome bears strong denticles restricted to the inner tergal surface of the lateral plate, with the lateral tergal area remaining bare (Fig. 2 o).	en	Gopalakrishnan, S., Natarajan, R., Shriram, A. N., Kumar, Ashwani, Rahi, Manju (2025): Diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Meghalaya State, India, with notes on seven new country records. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 337-366, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2
03C644449C1FD4574EA90C7EDD96FC5A.taxon	description	A single fourth-instar larva (Le 14936), although somewhat damaged, was collected from a tree hole on 28. VIII. 2022 at Shillong Peak (25.539624 N; 91.848479 E, 755 m a. s. l) in Meghalaya State and was identified as Cx. spiculosus. Identification was made by comparing the specimen with the description provided by Sirivanakarn (1977 c) and with reference specimens of Cx. raghavanii Rahman, Chowdhury & Kalra, 1969 and Cx. uniformis (Theobald, 1905 b) housed in our museum collection. Culex spiculosus was originally described from Thailand and later reported by Bram (1967) from Malaysia. Diagnosis. The presence of strong spicules on the thorax and abdominal segments places the larva of Cx. spiculosus in close resemblance with Cx. kuhnsi King & Hoogstraal, 1955, Cx. raghavanii and Cx. uniformis; however, each species is distinctly separated by other larval characters. Culex kuhnsi differs notably by possessing 4 – 6 branched spicules on the thorax and abdomen, whereas Cx. raghavanii, Cx. spiculosus and Cx. uniformis have unbranched spicules. In Cx. raghavanii, seta 8 - P is double and subequal in length to seta 7 - P, while in Cx. spiculosus seta 8 - P is single (Fig. 3 a). Culex spiculosus larvae can be easily distinguished from those of Cx. uniformis by the following features: Seta 5 - C is double (although not clearly visible due to damage); the posterior caudal margin of the saddle is lightly spiculate; seta 2 - X is single (Fig. 3 b); and seta 8 - P is single and subequal to seta 7 - P. In contrast, Cx. uniformis exhibits 3 - or 4 - branched seta 5 - C; the posterior caudal margin of the saddle bears numerous strong spicules; and seta 8 - P is minute and 4 - or 5 - branched. The pecten spines of Cx. spiculosus are illustrated in (Fig. 3 c). The known distributions of Cx. raghavanii and Cx. uniformis include the Western Ghats and southern India, while Cx. spiculosus is reported from Thailand and Malaysia. Species of the subgenus Lophoceraomyia are difficult to identify based on morphological characters of adult females, but they can be reliably separated by features of the male genitalia and larvae. In most cases, reared associated specimens are essential for accurate species confirmation. Sirivanakarn (1977 c: 8) and Belkin (1962: 250) both emphasized that larval characters are more useful for identification than characters of the male genitalia. However, as the present diagnosis is based on a single larva, additional specimens with associated life stages are necessary to validate the presence of Cx. spiculosus in India.	en	Gopalakrishnan, S., Natarajan, R., Shriram, A. N., Kumar, Ashwani, Rahi, Manju (2025): Diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Meghalaya State, India, with notes on seven new country records. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 337-366, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2
03C644449C1ED4574EA908BBDC28F9D2.taxon	description	A total of 15 specimens (3 F, 1 M, 1 MG, 3 Le, 5 L, among these a female with associated larval and pupal exuviae) collected on 25. VIII. 2022 from crab holes in the Dibru Hills (25.906550 N; 90.121067 E, 74.35 m a. s. l) in Meghalaya State, India. These specimens were examined and compared with the descriptions provided by Peyton (1977) and Rattanarithikul et al. (2006). Uranotaenia sumethi is previously known only from Thailand. Diagnosis. Adults are pale brown in colour with a uniformly pale thoracic pleura. The anterior pronotum bears light brown scales, with the lower margin having 1 long stout seta and 5 small weak setae. The postpronotum is characterized by 1,2 setae and a distinct patch of scales. The mesokatepisternum bears a patch of colourless, translucent scales on the upper half, while the mesepimeron lacks setae (Fig. 3 d). Adults of Ur. sumethi resemble Ur. nocticola Peyton, 1977 and Ur. pylei Baisas, 1946 in general coloration but differ distinctly in the aforementioned characters. Larvae of Ur. sumethi are readily distinguished from the larvae of other species by the following features: Seta 5 - C is single; the mentum possesses approximately 9 teeth (Fig. 3 e); seta 5 - III – VI is single and weak; seta 9 - II – V is stout, short and single; segment X is covered with a complete saddle; and the pecten spines are short with apical denticles (Fig. 3 f).	en	Gopalakrishnan, S., Natarajan, R., Shriram, A. N., Kumar, Ashwani, Rahi, Manju (2025): Diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Meghalaya State, India, with notes on seven new country records. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 337-366, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2
03C644449C1ED4554EA90D32D80FFE9A.taxon	description	A total of 43 specimens (1 adult female with associated larval and pupal exuviae, along with 3 adult females collected resting in bushes near a ground pool, 4 larval exuviae and 33 larvae obtained from spring pools and stream margins in Baghmara, South Garo Hills and William Nagar, East Garo Hills, Meghalaya State (25.202270 – 25.202750 N; 90.612207 – 90.643363 E, 13 – 167 m a. s. l and 25.551785 N; 90.552685 E, 203 m a. s. l) on 26. XII. 2023. Uranotaenia sombooni was identified by comparing adults and larvae with the descriptions and illustrations provided by Peyton & Klein (1970) and Rattanarithikul et al. (2006). Uranotaenia sombooni was originally described from Thailand. Diagnosis. Uranotaenia sombooni closely resembles Ur. hebes Barraud, 1931 a, Ur. prajimi Peyton & Rattanarithikul, 1970 and Ur. annandalei Barraud, 1926. However, adults of Ur. sombooni can be distinguished from those of Ur. hebes by the absence of broad, flat, silvery translucent scales at the middle of the mesepimeron. They differ from the adults of Ur. annandalei by having a narrow ocular line composed of dull white scales and the presence of scales on the postpronotum. Uranotaenia prajimi differs from Ur. sombooni by having pale bluish decumbent scales on the head and a small lighter patch on the occiput; supraalar scales are mostly narrow, light to dark brown in colour and much less numerous. Larval characteristics of Ur. sombooni are shown in Fig. 3 g – l. The larva of Ur. sombooni, although closely resembling the larvae of Ur. annandalei and Ur. prajimi, can be distinguished by several key features: Ur. annandalei differs by having seta 1 - A broad, flattened and inserted at the middle of the antennal shaft, Ur. prajimi differs in possessing a narrow, sclerotized plate on segment VIII that covers approximately 0.5 of the segment, lack of pigmentation on the siphon and having seta 1 - S flattened and lanceolate. Uranotaenia hebes differs in that seta 1 - C is spine-like and not bent at the apex; setae 1,2 - P are without aciculae; and seta 1 - A is single and long.	en	Gopalakrishnan, S., Natarajan, R., Shriram, A. N., Kumar, Ashwani, Rahi, Manju (2025): Diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Meghalaya State, India, with notes on seven new country records. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 337-366, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2
03C644449C1AD4534EA908E2D85EFA19.taxon	description	In the present study, we recorded several Anopheles species of epidemiological and biogeographical importance. These include An. minimus Theobald, 1901 a, An. fluviatilis James, 1902, An. aconitus Dönitz, 1902 and An. jeyporiensis James, 1902 of the Funestus Group; An. baimaii Sallum & Peyton, 2005 (in Sallum et al. 2005) of the Dirus Complex; and An. annularis van der Wulp, 1884 and An. philippinensis Ludlow, 1902 of the Annularis Group. These groups are widely distributed across Southeast Asia. Members of the Maculatus Group are also well represented in India, particularly in the northeastern region. Of the nine known species in the group (Somboon et al. 2011), six have been reported from northeastern India (Singh et al. 2012). In Meghalaya State, two species, namely An. maculatus Theobald, 1901 a and An. pseudowillmori (Theobald, 1910 b) were previously documented. In the current survey, four species in the Maculatus Group were collected: An. maculatus, An. pseudowillmori, An. dravidicus Christophers, 1924 and An. sawadwongporni Rattanarithikul & Green, 1987. While An. dravidicus is not new to the state, its detection reaffirms its presence and supports Christophers (1933) taxonomic validation after initially describing it in 1924. The dominance of An. maculatus aligns with Singh et al. (2012). Additionally, a distinct species from the Baileyi Complex was collected, differing from An. baileyi in adult morphology and preliminary molecular data. Further studies are underway to confirm its identity and taxonomic status.	en	Gopalakrishnan, S., Natarajan, R., Shriram, A. N., Kumar, Ashwani, Rahi, Manju (2025): Diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Meghalaya State, India, with notes on seven new country records. Zootaxa 5706 (3): 337-366, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.2
