Culiseta

Azari-Hamidian, Shahyad & Harbach, Ralf E., 2009, Keys to the adult females and fourth-instar larvae of the mosquitoes of Iran (Diptera: Culicidae), Zootaxa 2078, pp. 1-33 : 16-17

Key to subgenera, species, and subspecies of genus Culiseta : adults

(key characters are illustrated in Figs 1–4 )

1. Scutum with distinct longitudinal stripes of white scales, resembling a lyre in shape; femora and tibiae with pattern of pale spots and white stripes; anterior margin of costa (C) almost entirely pale-scaled; lateral margin of antennal scape, posteroventral area of cervix, and lower proepisternum with scales; sternum VIII with 2 broad lobes separated by deep groove; in male, maxillary palpus shorter than proboscis (subgenus Allotheobaldia) ........ ....................................................................................................................................................... Cs. longiareolata

- Scutum with pale scales arranged in a more diffuse pattern; femora and tibiae without pattern of pale spots and white stripes, some scattered pale scales may be present; anterior margin of C mainly dark-scaled or with pale and dark scales intermingled; lateral margin of antennal scape, posteroventral area of cervix, and lower proepisternum without scales; sternum VIII without broad lobes; in male, maxillary palpus at least as long as proboscis ........... 2

2(1). Radiomedial (rm) and mediocubital (mcu) crossveins well separated, mcu closer to wing base, distance between them usually at least as long as mcu; wing without dark clusters of scales; tarsi with narrow pale rings, ring on tar-

somere 3 not more than 0.2 length of tarsomere; hindtarsomere 4 without pale ring; femora and tibiae dark-scaled; postspiracular area and metameron without scales; abdominal tergum II without longitudinal pale band (subgenus Culicella ).............................................................................................................................. Cs. morsitans (Note 39) - Crossveins rm and mcu aligned or slightly separated, if separated distance between them less than length of mcu; wing with dark clusters of scales, especially prominent close to crossveins and at base of cells R2 (anterior forked cell of vein 2) and M2 (posterior forked cell of vein 4); rings of pale scales on bases of tarsomeres broad, ring on tarsomere 3 more than 0.3 length of tarsomere; hindtarsomere 4 with pale ring; femora and tibiae speckled or with pale ring; postspiracular area and metameron with scales; abdominal tergum II with longitudinal pale band (subgenus Culiseta ).......................................................................................................................................................... 3

3(2). Femora without preapical pale rings, dark and pale scales intermixed throughout; hindtarsomere 1 without median pale ring ( Cs. alaskaensis ) (Note 40)........................................................................................................................ 4

- Femora with preapical pale rings; hindtarsomere 1 with median white ring (Note 41) .......................................... 5

4(3). Body dark brown or black; pattern of strongly contrasting dark and pale scales on tarsi and abdominal terga; wing mostly with unicolourous dark scales, only a few scattered pale scales, mostly on costa (C), and also on subcosta (Sc), radius (R), and radius-one (R1) (vein 1) ............................................................. Cs. alaskaensis alaskaensis *

- Body pale or ochreous brown; pattern of dark and pale scales on tarsi and abdominal terga not strongly contrasted, diffuse; fairly significant mixture of pale scales on C, Sc, R, and R1 ................................... Cs. alaskaensis indica

5(3). Costa (C) usually completely dark-scaled or with isolated pale scales, isolated pale scales on subcosta (Sc) and radius (R) (vein 1); cubitus (Cu) usually entirely dark-scaled (occasionally with a few pale scales); abdominal terga largely with white or yellowish scales, often restricted to basal bands and longitudinal band on tergum II; wing with distinct dark spots; body dark brown or black, relatively dark species; contrasting pattern of dark and pale scales on legs and abdominal terga; radiomedial (rm) and mediocubital (mcu) crossveins aligned .................. ............................................................................................................................................................... Cs. annulata

- Veins C, Sc, and R with scattered pale scales; some pale scales always present on Cu; basal bands of abdominal terga always yellowish, yellowish scales scattered over dark areas; wing spots less distinct; body colour pale or ochreous brown, relatively pale species; pattern of dark and pale scales on legs and abdominal terga not distinct, diffuse; crossveins rm and mcu slightly separated, mcu slightly closer to wing apex........................ Cs. subochrea

Figures

FIGURE 1. Characters of adult mosquitoes used in the keys. A, Lateral aspect (left side) of a culicine female (diagrammatic). B, Dorsal aspect of female anopheline cibarium. C, Ventral aspect of the posttarsis of an aedine female. (A, B Modified from Harbach & Knight, 1980; C modified from Edwards, 1941).

FIGURE 2. Lateral aspect (left side) of the head of an Anopheles female showing characters used in the keys. (Modified from Harbach & Knight, 1980).

FIGURE 3. Characters of the mosquito thorax used in the keys. A, Lateral aspect (left side) of an aedine male. B, Dorsal aspect of the same. (Modified from Harbach & Knight, 1980).

FIGURE 4. Characters of the mosquito wing used in the keys. A, Left wing (ventral aspect) of an aedine female. B, Costal wing spots (dorsal aspect) of anopheline wings. (A Modified from Harbach & Knight, 1980; B modified from Glick, 1992).