Primer pairs were designed and protocols developed to selectively amplify segments of vertebrate mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and cytochrome b (Cyt b) mtDNA from the bloodmeals of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). The protocols use two pairs of nested COI primers and one pair of Cyt b primers to amplify short segments of DNA. Resultant sequences are then compared with sequences in GenBank, using the BLAST function, for putative host identification. Vertebrate DNA was amplified from 88% of our sample of 162 wild-caught, blood-fed mosquitoes from Oregon, U.S.A. and GenBank BLAST searches putatively identified 98% of the amplified sequences, including one amphibian, seven mammalian and 14 avian species. Criteria and caveats for putative identification of bloodmeals are discussed.

This paper reviews the historical treatment of the tribe Sabethini and genus‐group taxa and examines the unusual life histories associated with the group. Although recognized by taxonomists as distinct, the taxonomic position of sabethines has been questioned and their rank within the family Culicidae unstable. In order to evaluate the current status of the classification of the tribe a cladistic analysis is performed. Thirty‐seven taxa are selected from within the Sabethini and two outgroups were chosen from the tribe Aedini. Exemplars are selected from genus‐group taxa world‐wide and new and traditional character systems examined in larval, pupal and adult life stages. The results firmly establish the sabethines as a monophyletic group. However, the genera Runchomyia, Tripteroides and Wyeomyia are not demonstrably monophyletic. In addition, the data support the New World taxa as a monophyletic group to a paraphyletic assemblage of Old World taxa. The pattern displayed by the cladogram suggests the ability to vector arboviruses has arisen more than once in mosquitoes.