Mosquito

Leopoldo M. Rueda, 2004, Pictorial keys for the identification of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) associated with Dengue Virus Transmission, Zootaxa 589, pp. 1-60 : 53-56

Key for the Identification of Fourth Stage Mosquito Larvae Associated with Dengue Virus Transmission in the North, Central and South America, including the Caribbean Islands

1. Head. Seta 1­C very stout ( Fig. 137 ); seta 4­C usually caudad to seta 6­C ( Fig. 138 ). Abdomen. Setae 1,2­I­VII stellate ( Fig. 139 ); siphon with pecten spines strongly arctuate ( Fig. 140 ); pecten spine without subapical dentricle ( Fig. 140 ) .................... ................................................................ Ochlerotatus (Gymnometopa) mediovittatus

Head. Seta 1­C not stout ( Fig. 141 ); seta 4­C cephalad to seta 6­C ( Fig. 142 ). Abdomen: Setae 1,2­I­VII not stellate ( Fig. 143 ); siphon with pecten spines not strongly arctuate ( Fig. 144); pecten spine with 2 or more subapical dentricles ( Fig. 144)...... 2

2(1). Abdomen. Ventral brush (4­X) with 5 pairs of setae ( Fig. 145 ); seta 4­a,b X branched ( Fig. 145 ); comb scale with stout, subapical spines ( Fig. 146) ................... ........................................................................................... Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti

Abdomen. Ventral brush (4­X) with 4 pairs of setae ( Fig. 147 ); seta 4­a, b X single ( Fig. 148 ); comb scale without subapical spines ( Fig. 148 ) ....................................... ....................................................................................... Aedes(Stegomyia) albopictus

Explanation of Notes

a Ochlerotatus mediovittatus in the adult stage can be separated from the other members of the genera Aedes and Ochlerotatus in the Americas using various diagnostic characters, namely: scutum with a narrow median­longitudinal white stripe; presence of a silver patch of scales or short line in the fossa and above the prealar knob but no patch of scales on or below the prealar knob; posterior pronotum with narrow, curved dark scales; paratergite, scutellar lobes and front of mesothoracic spiracle with broad, flat white scales; hindfemur with a long narrow white line on the anterior surface; hindtarsomeres with pale bands; and, abdominal segments 6–7 not flattened laterally unlike Ochlerotatus triseriatus (Say) (B. A. Harrison, unpublished information).

b Aedes albopictus , the Asian tiger mosquito, can be distinguished from related species by the presence of broad, flat white scales on the lateral margin of the scutum just before the level of wing root. When scutal markings are rubbed off, Ae. aegypti can be easily misidentified as Ae. albopictus . It can be distinguished by having two separate white scale patches on the mesepimeron whereas they are connected in Ae. albopictus .

Figures

FIGURE 137. Ochlerotatus (Gymnometopa) mediovittatus.

FIGURE 138. Aedes (Gymnometopa) mediovittatus.

FIGURE 139. Ochlerotatus (Gymnometopa) mediovittatus.

FIGURE 140. Ochlerotatus (Gymnometopa) mediovittatus (PS, pecten spine).

FIGURE 141. Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus.

FIGURE 142. Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti.

FIGURE 143. Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus.

FIGURE 145. Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti.

FIGURE 147. Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus.

FIGURE 148. Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus.