Aedes
Creators: name: Azari-Hamidian, Shahyad
name: Harbach, Ralf E.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2009
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Culicidae
Aedes

description: Key to subgenera, species, and subspecies of genera Aedes and Ochlerotatus: fourth-instar larvae
(larva of Oc. chelli is unknown) (key characters are illustrated in Figs 5 and 6)
1. Siphon without acus (auricle) (with indistinct acus in Ae. vittatus) [antenna smooth or very sparsely spiculate; seta 1-A (antennal tuft) with at most 4 branches; seta 12-I absent] ................................................................................ 2
- Siphon with well-developed acus.............................................................................................................................4
2(1). Pecten with 1, sometimes 2, apical spines distinctly separated from other spines beyond seta 1-S (siphonal tuft); seta 1-A (antennal tuft) with 2 or 3 branches, inserted slightly before middle of shaft; seta 4-X (ventral brush) with 2 or more precratal setae; seta 4-C (postclypeal seta) and 6-C (median frontal seta) on level with base of antenna; seta 4-C minute, with very few (2–4) fine branches; seta 5-II–V single, rarely double; antenna very sparsely spiculate; anal papillae (gills) wider at base and pointed apically, more than 2.0 length of saddle [SI 2.0 (1.9–3.1); seta 7-C usually with 2 or more branches, rarely single; comb scales with apical spine, without subapical spines; PTF 1:1:2:1:1:1:2–3] (Aedes subgenus Fredwardsius) ................................................................................... Ae. vittatus
- Pecten with spines equally spaced, sometimes 1 or 2 apical spines slightly more widely separated but not distinctly and not beyond seta 1-S; seta 1-A single, inserted slightly beyond middle of shaft; seta 4-X without precratal setae; setae 4,6-C inserted far forward on head; seta 4-C well developed, usually with 5 (4–7) branches; seta 5-II–V branched; antenna smooth; anal papillae sausage-shaped with round ends, 2.5–3.0 length of saddle (Aedes subgenus Stegomyia)................................................................................................................................................. 3
3(2). Comb scales with stout subapical spines; basal tubercle(s) of setae 9–12-M,T (meso- and metapleural groups of setae) strongly sclerotized, curved and pointed, spine-like; seta 4-X (ventral brush) with 5 pairs of setae, each usually two-branched (2 or 3); seta 7-C (outer frontal seta) single, rarely double [SI 1.5–2.5; PTF 2–3:1:2:1–2:2:1:2–3] ............................................................................................................. Ae. aegypti * (Note 24)
- Comb scales without subapical spines; basal tubercle(s) of setae 9–12-M,T with only small denticles; seta 4-X with 4 pairs of setae, each single; seta 7-C usually with 2 or more branches, rarely single [SI 2.0; PTF 3–4:1:2:2–3:1–2:1:2–3] .................................................................................................................... Ae. albopictus *
4(1). Pecten with 1, sometimes 2, apical spines distinctly separated from other spines, more curved and stouter than others and usually without secondary denticles; seta 1-S (siphonal tufts) small, length about 0.5 width of siphon at point of attachment; seta 12-I absent [antenna spiculate; seta 1-A (antennal tuft) with 5-12 branches; 9–12 comb scales arranged in single or double row; SI 3.0–3.5 (2.1–4.3); lateral palatal brush (LPB) (labral brush) with distally dentate filaments; PTF 1:1:1–3:1–2:1:1:2–3] (Aedes subgenus Aedimorphus) .............. Ae. vexans (Note 25)
- Pecten with spines regularly or irregularly spaced but without apical curved and stout distinctly separated spines; seta 1-S large, length more than 0.5 width of siphon at point of attachment, except Oc. caballus; seta 12-I present (genus Ochlerotatus) (Note 4) .................................................................................................................................. 5
5(4). Thorax and abdomen with stellate setae; antenna smooth, without spicules; pecten spines long, pointed, equally spaced [seta 1-A (antennal tuft) single; comb scales in a single row; tree-hole larva] (Ochlerotatus subgenus Finlaya) ......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
- Thorax and abdomen without stellate setae; antenna spiculate even if only sparsely; pecten spines short, not spine-like, with a broad base (Ochlerotatus subgenus Ochlerotatus) ...................................................................... 7
6(5). Pecten about 0.5 length of siphon, usually with 18–22 (15–27) spines; setae 1,2,5-I (stellate setae of abdominal segment I) obviously longer than segment, some with 5-10 branches; seta 6-III–VI (lateral seta on abdominal segments III–VI) long and stout; dorsal pair of anal papillae (gills) about 2.0 length of ventral pair and distinctly longer than saddle [SI 3.0–3.5; PTF 3–5:1:5–8:6-8:2:1:2] .......................................................................... Oc. echinus
- Pecten distinctly less than 0.5 length of siphon, usually with 15 (14–20) spines; setae 1,2,5-I about as long as segment, at most 6-branched; setae 6-III–VI shorter and more slender; dorsal pair of anal papillae about 1.5 length ventral pair and slightly longer than saddle [SI 2.0–3.0; PTF 3–4:1:3-6:4–7:2:1:2] ....... Oc. geniculatus (Note 26)
7(5). Antenna sparsely spiculate; anal papillae (gills) very long at least 2.0 length of saddle, sausage-shaped with round ends; seta 1-X (saddle seta) at least 2.0 length of saddle; head about as broad as long; median filaments of lateral palatal brush (LPB) (labral brush) not apically serrate; seta 1-S (siphonal tuft) at least 2.0 width of siphon at point of attachment, inserted well below middle of siphon [seta 1-A (antennal tuft) with 2–4 branches; tree-hole larva] (Pulcritarsis Complex) (Note 29).............................................................................................................................. 8
- Antenna well spiculate; anal papillae less than 2.0 length of saddle; seta 1-X less than 2.0 length of saddle; head broader than long; median filaments of LPB apically serrate; seta 1-S less than 2.0 width of siphon at point of attachment, inserted on or beyond middle of siphon (may be slightly below middle in Oc. dorsalis and Oc. leucomelas) .................................................................................................................................................................. 10
8(7). Seta 1-S (siphonal tuft) at about 0.5 length of siphon, less than 2.0 width of siphon at point of attachment; comb with 6–11 scales in a single row; siphon index (SI) usually under 5.0 (3.0–5.2); anal papillae (gills) equally long; seta 1-A (antennal seta) inserted on or slightly beyond middle of shaft [PTF 3:1–2:2–4:3–4:3–4:1:5] Oc. pulcritarsis ......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
- Seta 1-S at about 0.33 length of siphon, more than 2.0 width of siphon at point of attachment; comb scales usually more numerous (16–20), often arranged in an irregular triangular patch; SI usually more than 5.0 (3.5–7.8); dorsal pair of anal papillae longer than ventral pair; seta 1-A inserted well beyond middle of shaft [PTF 2–3:1:2:2–3:2- 3:1:3–4] .............................................................................................................................................. Oc. berlandi *
9(8). Siphon index (SI) 4.0–5.0; siphon slightly but uniformly tapered toward apex; anal papillae (gills) usually as long as siphon ..................................................................................................................... Oc. pulcritarsis pulcritarsis
- SI 3.0–3.5; siphon strongly tapered toward apex; anal papillae usually twice as long as siphon .............................. ........................................................................................................................................... Oc. pulcritarsis asiaticus
10(7). Seta 4-X (ventral brush) with 4–7 precratal setae (arising anterior to grid); seta 1-X (saddle seta) about 1.3 length of saddle; siphon index (SI) greater than 3.0 (3.2–4.0) [PTF 1:1:2–3:1:2:1:3–8] ............................. Oc. flavescens
- Seta 4-X with at most 3 precratal setae; seta 1-X shorter than 1.3 length of saddle, usually at most as long as saddle; SI usually not more than 3.0 ........................................................................................................................... 11
11(10).Seta 1-A (antennal tuft) single or double; comb with about 10 large scales with secondary denticles confined to base; anal papillae (gills) about 1.5 length of saddle; length of seta 1-S (siphonal tuft) at most 0.5 width of siphon at point of attachment [SI 2.6–2.9; seta 1-X (saddle seta) about half as long as saddle; PTF 1:1:1-4:1:1:1-2:3 ....... .............................................................................................................................................. Oc. caballus (Note 28)
- Seta 1-A with more than 3 branches; comb with more than 10 (usually more than 20) scales or spines; anal papillae no longer than saddle, usually shorter; seta 1-S more than 0.5 width of siphon at point of attachment........... 12
12(11).Comb with more than 25 (usually more than 35) scales, scales without main spine; anal papillae (gills) spherical and very short; setae 2–6-P (prothoracic setae 2–6) usually single; seta 5-C (inner frontal seta) with 2–5 branches; seta 6-C (median frontal seta) usually with 2 or 3 branches, rarely single [SI 3.0 (1.8–3.5); seta 1-X (saddle seta) nearly as long as saddle; PTF 2:1:1:1:1:1:3] ......................................................................................... Oc. detritus
- Comb with fewer than 25 scales, at least some scales with long main spine; anal papillae not spherical; at least one of setae 2–6-P branched; seta 5-C usually single, rarely with 2 branches; seta 6-C usually single, rarely with 2 or 3 branches .......................................................................................................................................................... 13
13(12).Seta 4-X (ventral brush) with long main basal stem, at least 1.5–2.0 length of transverse grid bar at base of central cratal seta; anal papillae (gills) tapering; seta 1-X (saddle seta) nearly as long as saddle [SI 2.6 (2.2–4.2); PTF 1–2:1:1:1:2:1:3] ............................................................................................................................... Oc. leucomelas
- Seta 4-X branched from near base, main stem subequal to length of transverse grid bar at base of central cratal seta; anal papillae rounded; seta 1-X short, about 0.5 length of saddle (Caspius Complex) (Note 30) ................. 14
14(13).Seta 1-S (siphonal tuft) inserted beyond middle of siphon, usually with more than 5 (5–10) branches; seta 1- III–VI short with more than 2 simple branches; seta 3-VIII usually with more than 8 branches; seta 1-P (prothoracic seta 1) usually single [SI 2.9 (1.4–3.2); PTF 1:1:2:1:1–2:1:3] ................................................ Oc. caspius s.l.
- Seta 1-S inserted about midlength of siphon, usually with fewer than 5 (3-6) branches; seta 1-III–VI long with 2 aciculate branches; seta 3-VIII usually with fewer than 8 branches; seta 1-P usually double [SI 2.3 (1.4–3.0); PTF 2:1:2:1:2:1:3] ...................................................................................................................................... Oc. dorsalis *
description: Published as part of Azari-Hamidian, Shahyad & Harbach, Ralf E., 2009, Keys to the adult females and fourth-instar larvae of the mosquitoes of Iran (Diptera: Culicidae), pp. 1-33 in Zootaxa 2078 on pages 20-21, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187282