New species of Culex (Culiciomyia) (Diptera: Culicidae) from Talangaye Forest in Cameroon and descriptions and identification keys for males of the Afrotropical species of the subgenus

Abstract

Species of Culex (Diptera: Culicidae) belonging to the subgenus Culiciomyia were collected in partially logged areas and in surrounding pristine forest (Talangaye Forest) in the Nguti Subdivision in the South-West Region of Cameroon. Mosquitoes were collected mainly by sweep netting through forest floor vegetation. Morphological species identification of African Culiciomyia relies almost exclusively on the structure of the male genitalia and the shapes of comb scales on the maxillary palpi of males. Other features of males and the habitus of females are largely indistinguishable between the species of this subgenus. In total, seven currently described species and three new species were collected in the forest. The males of the three new species are described and named as Culex apicopilosus Cornel & Mayi, sp. n., Culex lanzaroi Cornel & Mayi, sp. n. and Culex pseudosubaequalis Cornel & Mayi, sp. n. More detailed descriptions of males of the other currently known species that were collected in the Talangaye Forest and pictorial keys to the males of all Afrotropical species of Culiciomyia, including the new species, are provided.

Friends in All the Green Spaces: Weather Dependent Changes in Urban Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Abundance and Diversity

“…Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are common biting insects found on almost every continent: Thus far, a total of 3583 species have been recorded from various parts of the world [ 1 , 2 ]. Moreover, mosquitoes are the primary transmitters, also known as vectors, for many of the most important arthropod-borne diseases [ 3 ].…”

Morphological and Molecular Characterization Using Genitalia and CoxI Barcode Sequence Analysis of Afrotropical Mosquitoes with Arbovirus Vector Potential

“…cinereus. Multiple species of Culiciomyia occur in Africa and all have identical female and male external morphologies, relying solely on male genitalia structures for species identification [65]. Separation of species by CoxI gene sequences may be fruitful in the case of Culiciomyia.…”

The insupportable validity of mosquito subspecies (Diptera: Culicidae) and their exclusion from culicid classification

“…Females are generally difficult to distinguish, some are indistinguishable, and the identification of species depends mainly on anatomical features of males and fourth-instar larvae. Nineteen species of the subgenus are currently recognized in the Afrotropical Region (Cornel et al 2020).…”

“…Note. The palpal comb (Cornel et al 2020) is a ventral row of long outstanding hair-like scales (Belkin 1962) on the distal half of palpomere 3 (Edwards 1941). Cornel et al (2020) quoted Edwards (1941) for the development of the palpal comb scales of the typical form, but their photographic illustration differs slightly from Edwards's line drawing.…”

“…The palpal comb (Cornel et al 2020) is a ventral row of long outstanding hair-like scales (Belkin 1962) on the distal half of palpomere 3 (Edwards 1941). Cornel et al (2020) quoted Edwards (1941) for the development of the palpal comb scales of the typical form, but their photographic illustration differs slightly from Edwards's line drawing. The palpal comb depicted by Edwards consists of a proximal set of 6 long spear-like scales separated by a small gap from a distal set comprised of 7 smaller, distally broader and apically hooked scales.…”