Diagnostic Characters of the 3rd and 4th Antennal Segments in Females of the Mosquito Genus Aedes Meigen (Diptera, Culicidae)

摘要

The structure of 3rd and 4th antennal segments was studied in 11 species of the genus Aedes Meigen. Strongly and weakly varying characters were revealed. Some of these characters could be used for the subgeneric and species diagnostics. Bloodsucking mosquitoes (Culicidae) are one of the best studied groups of insects. This circumstance is determined by an exclusively high damage caused by many representatives of the family, because mosquito bites are painful and some species transmit dangerous diseases. Correct determination of species is very important in various investigations of bloodsucking mosquitoes. In keys to females of the family Culicidae of the fauna of the former USSR (Gutsevich et al., 1970; Gutsevich and Dubitzkij, 1981), mainly the characters of thoracic chaetotaxy are mainly used. However, during mass collection of adult mosquitoes their chaetae and scales are frequently lost; as a result, many specimens could not be determined properly. Gutsevich (1973a, 1973b, 1974) suggested using an additional key to female mosquitoes by head characters. This author made more than 700 balsam slides of female heads of 80 species of the family Culicidae of the fauna of the former USSR. This slides allowed the author to examine in detail not onlythe head capsule itself, but also the structure of its appendages, antennae and mouth parts (their size, segment composition, and cuticular outgrowths).