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

description: Key to subgenera, species, and subspecies of genus Anopheles: fourth-instar larvae
(key characters are illustrated in Figs 5 and 6)
1. Seta 2-C (inner clypeal seta) inserted close together, closer than distance between 2-C and 3-C (outer clypeal seta) on one side; seta 1-A (antennal tuft) and setae 5–7-C (frontal setae) branched, if 1-A single then 5–7-C single (An. plumbeus); all setae 9,10-P, 9,10-M, and 9,10-T (long pleural setae) single or at most with four branches, never feathered; seta 1-A inserted on inner (mesal) side of antennal shaft, except An. plumbeus; leaflets of abdominal seta 1 (palmate seta) usually uniformly tapering to apex, lanceolate, except An. marteri (subgenus Anopheles) ... 2
- Seta 2-C inserted at least as far apart as distance between 2-C and 3-C on one side; seta 1-A always single; at least one of setae 9,10-P, 9,10-M, and 9,10-T feathered; 1-A inserted on outer (lateral) side of antennal shaft; leaflets of abdominal seta 1 usually abruptly narrowed or shouldered, deeply notched, thus divided into a blade and terminal filament (subgenus Cellia) ...................................................................................................................................... 12
2(1). Antenna smooth, without spicules; seta 6-IV–VI (long lateral setae on abdominal segments IV–VI) distinctly feathered; stellate setae on abdominal sterna present; setae 5–7-C (frontal setae) short and single, sometimes 7-C with 2 or 3 branches; seta 11-C (subantennal seta) very short, with only 2 or 3 branches [tree-hole larva] .............. .............................................................................................................................................................. An. plumbeus
- Antenna spiculate; setae 6-IV–VI branched but not feathered; abdominal sterna without stellate setae; setae 5–7-C long and branched; seta 11-C nearly as long as antenna, with at least 18 branches ................................................ 3
3(2). Seta 3-C (outer clypeal seta) simple, aciculate, or very slightly branched at tip ...................................................... 4
- Seta 3-C branched, dendritic ..................................................................................................................................... 7
4(3). Head with 3 transverse dark bands; setae 2- and 3-C (inner and outer clypeal setae) aciculate; seta 1-P (inner prothoracic or shoulder seta) with 4 or more branches; anterior tergal plates large, 5.0–6.0 times wider than long, larger than distance between setae 1 (palmate setae); seta 8-C (postfrontal seta) with 3 or more branches; seta 0- IV,V well developed; antenna strongly spiculate [leaflets of abdominal seta 1 uniformly tapering to apex; seta 4-C shorter than seta 3-C, branched (2–5) and rarely single; seta 1-X (saddle seta) well within margin of saddle; more than 1 short tooth between longest teeth of pecten]........................................................................... An. algeriensis
- Head spotted not banded; setae 2- and 3-C simple or with 2 or 3 apical branches; seta 1-P single or double; anterior tergal plates no more than 3.0 times wider than long, less than distance between setae 1; seta 8-C with at most 2 branches; seta 0-IV,V minute, single, or absent; antenna weakly spiculate........................................................... 5
5(4). Leaflets of abdominal seta 1 (palmate seta) abruptly narrowed before apex; seta 4-C (posterior clypeal seta) as long as or longer than seta 3-C (outer clypeal seta), single and rarely bifid; seta 1-P (inner prothoracic or shoulder seta) strong, plumose; abdominal seta 2-IV,V (antepalmate setae on abdominal segments IV and V) with 1–3 branches; seta 1-X (saddle seta) well within margin of saddle; more than 1 short tooth between longest teeth of pecten (An. marteri) (Note 11).................................................................................................................................. 6
- Leaflets of abdominal seta 1 uniformly tapering to apex; seta 4-C shorter than 3-C, branched (2–5), rarely single; seta 1-P weakly developed, with 3 or 4 branches; abdominal seta 2-IV,V with 3–5 branches; seta 1-X on/or just outside margin of saddle; often one short tooth between longest teeth of pecten.................. An. claviger (Note 12)
6(5). Seta 4-C (posterior clypeal seta) short, usually extended forward just beyond base of seta 2-C (inner clypeal seta) not beyond anterior margin of dorsal apotome (frontoclypeus or clypeus); setae 2,3-P attached to common setal support plate; filaments of palmate setae 0.5 total length of leaflets ....................................... An. marteri marteri *
- Seta 4-C much longer, extending well beyond anterior margin of dorsal apotome, approximately 0.25 length of seta 2-C; setae 2,3-P on separate setal support plates; filaments of palmate setae 0.3 total length of leaflets ........... ................................................................................................................................................ An. marteri sogdianus
7(3). Seta 1-A (antennal tuft) inserted on basal 0.25 of antenna, usually with 3 or 4 (2–7) branches, length less than 0.5 length of antenna; seta 2-C (inner clypeal seta) well branched at apex (Maculipennis Group) (Note 9) ................ 8
- Seta 1-A inserted near middle of antenna, with 5 or more branches, length more than 0.5 length of antenna; seta 2- C usually simple or weakly branched at apex (Hyrcanus Group) (Note 8) .............................................................. 9
8(7). Seta 2 (antepalmate seta) of abdominal segments IV and V with mean number of branches 36.8, SD 1.9, range 27–45.................................................................................................................................................... An. sacharovi
- Seta 2 of abdominal segments IV and V with mean number of branches 16.5, SD 5.0, range 9–35 ......................... ................................................................................................................................................... An. maculipennis s.l.
9(7). Seta 1-X (saddle seta) as long as saddle; abdominal sterna spiculate medially; seta 1-I,II (seta 1 on abdominal segments I and II) more or less flattened and weakly palmate but not pigmented, seta 1-III–VII well developed and pigmented ............................................................................................................................................................... 10
- Seta 1-X longer than saddle; abdominal sterna not spiculate; seta 1-I,II rudimentary, seta 1-III–VII well developed and pigmented ........................................................................................................................................................ 11
10(9). Seta 4-M with sinuate, spreading branches arising close together at base...................................... An. peditaeniatus
- Seta 4-M with stiff, erect branches arising along stem .................................................................... An. nigerrimus *
11(9). Seta 2-C (inner clypeal seta) simple................................................................................................ An. pseudopictus
- Seta 2-C branched at apex.................................................................................................................... An. hyrcanus
12(1). Seta 3-C (outer clypeal seta) branched (4–12) [dark transverse band behind setae 5-7-C (frontal setae)]................. ........................................................................................................................................................ An. pulcherrimus
- Seta 3-C single, occasionally bifid or slightly branched at apex ............................................................................ 13
13(12).Anterior (main) tergal plates of abdominal segments III–VII exceptionally large, their posterior borders usually enclosing posterior tergal plate; width of main plate on segment V at least 0.75 distance between setae 1 (palmate setae) .............................................................................................................................. An. fluviatilis s.l. (Note 22)
- Anterior tergal plates on terga III–VII narrower, posterior tergal plates always entirely free; width of main plate on segment V not more (usually less) than 0.67 distance between setae 1 (except sometimes in An. sergentii and An. culicifacies s.l.) ....................................................................................................................................................... 14
14(13).Setae 9,10-M (long mesopleural setae) feathered; seta 1-III or 1-IV (palmate seta on abdominal segments III or IV) well developed; seta 4-C (posterior clypeal seta) exceptionally long, 0.67–1.0 length of seta 2-C (inner clypeal seta) ......................................................................................................................................................................... 15
- At least one of seta 9,10-M simple; seta 1-II–VII well developed; seta 4-C less than 0.67 length of seta 2-C, except An. apoci ................................................................................................................................................................ 16
15(14).Seta 1-IV–VI (seta 1 on abdominal segments IV–VI) palmate, 1-III weak; filaments of leaflets very short and blunt. ..................................................................................................................................... An. turkhudi (Note 17)
- Seta 1-III–VII palmate; filaments of leaflets sharply pointed and about 0.5 length of blade ..................................... .............................................................................................................................................. An. cinereus * (Note 18)
16(14).Setae 9,10-M (long mesopleural setae) simple, one may be occasionally feathered on one side of the thorax..... 17
– Seta 9-M feathered and 10-M simple...................................................................................................................... 19
17(16).Setae 9,10-T (long metathoracic pleural setae) feathered; setae 9,10-P (long prothoracic pleural setae) simple...... ........................................................................................................................................ An. subpictus s.l. (Note 23)
- Seta 9-T feathered and seta 10-T simple; seta 9-P feathered and seta 10-P simple................................................ 18
18(17).Setae 2,3-X (inner, outer caudal setae) both with strongly hooked branches; seta 4-C (posterior clypeal seta) about as long as seta 3-C (outer clypeal seta); paired accessory tergal plates usually dash-like and narrow; basal tubercles of setae 1,2-P (inner and median prothoracic or shoulder setae) well separated ............................... An. dthali
- Branches of seta 2-X straight, their ends not recurved, those of seta 3-X hooked; seta 4-C distinctly shorter than seta 3-C; paired accessory tergal plates usually dot-like and circular; basal tubercles of setae 1,2-P close together. ..................................................................................................................................... An. culicifacies s.l. (Note 19)
19(16).Seta 9-T (long metathoracic pleural seta) feathered and seta 10-T simple; seta 1-I (seta 1 on abdominal segment I) weakly palmate ....................................................................................................................................................... 20
- Setae 9,10-T feathered; seta 1-I not palmate, rudimentary ..................................................................................... 22
20(19).Abdominal plate wide, 0.8 distance between bases of setae 1 (palmate setae); dark markings on dorsal apotome (frontoclypeal markings) in shape of transverse band behind bases of setae 5–7-C (frontal setae); seta 2-X (inner caudal seta) hooked; seta 2-C (inner clypeal seta) simple ................................................... An. sergentii (Note 20)
- Abdominal plate not more than 0.67 distance between bases of setae 1; dark markings on dorsal apotome, if present, in shape of spots that do not form a continuous band behind bases of setae 5–7-C; seta 2-X straight; seta 2-C usually finely aciculate or branched at apex .......................................................................................................... 21
21(20).Antenna evenly spiculate; both setae 9,10-P (long prothoracic pleural setae) simple; setae 3,4-C (outer and posterior clypeal setae) exceptionally long, as long as seta 2-C (inner clypeal seta) ........................ An. apoci (Note 10)
- Antenna with a group of markedly longer spicules on basal 0.33 of inner (mesal) side; seta 9-P feathered and seta 10-P simple; seta 3,4-C shorter than seta 2-C ............................................... An. rhodesiensis rupicolus * (Note 16)
22(19).Seta 1-II–VII (abdominal palmate setae) well developed; seta 1-T (metathoracic seta 1) differentiated, forming distinct weakly palmate seta with 3–9 long branches [filaments of abdominal palmate setae longer than 0.5 length of blade] ................................................................................................................................................................. 23
- Seta 1-III–VII well developed, 1-II weakly developed; seta 1-T not differentiated, with 2–5 short branches [basal tubercles of setae 1,2-P (inner and median shoulder setae) separate, not fused] .................................................... 24
23(22).Seta 1-P (prothoracic seta 1 or inner shoulder seta) with small weakly sclerotized tubercle; basal tubercles of 1,2- P (inner and median shoulder setae) not fused; setae 2,3-C not stout and/or finely aciculate; base of dorsal apotome (frontoclypeus) with dark spots............................................................................................... An. superpictus
- Seta 1-P with strongly sclerotized tubercle; basal tubercles of 1,2-P fused; setae 2,3-C stout, seta 2-C finely aciculate on middle 0.67 and seta 3-C simple; base of dorsal apotome usually wholly dark ................. An. moghulensis
24(22).Seta 1-P (prothoracic seta 1 or inner shoulder seta) usually without basal tubercle, or poorly developed tubercle; seta 2-C (inner clypeal seta) always simple; anal papillae (gills) short, stumpy; filaments of abdominal palmate setae poorly defined or undeveloped, however if defined then longer than 0.5 length of blade; well-defined dark spots around bases of setae 5–7-C (frontal setae) that may be fused to form continuous band ......... An. multicolor
- Seta 1-P with well-sclerotized tubercle; seta 2-C usually finely aciculate; anal papillae elongate; filaments of
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 18-19, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.187282