Description of Aedes (Hulecoeteomyia) bhutanensis n. sp. (Diptera: Culicidae) from Bhutan

Aedes yunnanensis (Diptera: Culicidae): transferred from the subgenus Hulecoeteomyia to Orohylomyia subg. nov., with descriptions of the species and the new subgenus

Aedes yunnanensis (Gaschen), currently classified in the subgenus Hulecoeteomyia Theobald, is transferred to a new monobasic subgenus, Orohylomyia Somboon & Harbach, subg. nov., based on morphological assessment of adults, male and female genitalia, larvae, and pupae, and phylogenetic analysis. The new subgenus and its type species are described in detail.

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

Beginning about 80 years ago, the recognition of morphological varieties of mosquitoes was gradually replaced by the recognition of subspecies. As an examination of revisionary and detailed taxonomic studies of mosquitoes clearly shows, subspecies are untenable concepts which have been synonymized with nominotypical forms or recognized as distinct species. Thus, from our perspective, subspecies is not a functional or practical taxonomic rank. Consequently, in this study we critically assessed the taxonomic status of the 120 nominal taxa distinguished as subspecies before now to determine whether they should be recognized as separate species or synonymous names. As a result, 96 subspecies are formally elevated to specific rank, 22 are relegated to synonymy with nominotypical forms, one is considered a nomen dubium, one a species inquirenda and the names of four nominal species regarded as synonyms are revalidated. The subspecies and their new status are listed in a conspectus. The revalidated species include Anopheles argentinus (Brèthes, 1912), from synonymy with An. pseudopunctipennis Theobald, 1901c; An. peruvianus Tamayo, 1907, from synonymy with An. pseudopunctipennis as nomen dubium; Culex major Edwards, 1935, from synonymy with Cx. annulioris consimilis Newstead, 1907; and Trichoprosopon trichorryes (Dyar & Knab, 1907), from synonymy with Tr. compressum Lutz, 1905. Additionally, the type locality of Anopheles sergentii Theobald, 1907 is restricted to El Outaya, Biskra Province, Algeria. A complete list of species to be retained, added to or removed from the Encyclopedia of Life, with a few corrections, is provided.

The Anopheles baileyi species complex (Diptera: Culicidae: Anophelinae) in Bhutan

This paper deals with three species (informal species A, B and C) of the Baileyi Complex of Anopheles subgenus Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) that were recently reported from Bhutan. Species A is An. baileyi sensu stricto, while species B and C are new species which are formally described and named herein as An. monticola Somboon, Namgay & Harbach and An. bhutanensis Somboon, Namgay & Harbach, respectively. Morphological characters of the adults, male genitalia, larval and pupal stages of the two new species, and the chaetotaxy of the immature stages, are provided and compared with An. baileyi from Bhutan. Although the patterns of wing spots of the adults and the pupal setae of the three species are very similar, significant differences in structures of the male genitalia distinguish them. Larvae of An. baileyi and An. monticola are similar, but differ from the larva of An. bhutanensis in the development of setae 3- and 13-T. The first antennal flagellomere of females of An. baileyi and An. bhutanensis has a distinct patch of pale scales, which is absent in An. monticola.

Evidence for the spread of the alien species Aedes koreicus in the Lombardy region, Italy

BACKGROUND

Aedes koreicus is a mosquito species characterized by marked anthropophilic behavior, and a potential vector of nematodes and viruses. It is native to East Asia, but its presence has recently been reported in many regions of Europe. In Italy, these mosquitoes had been detected in the northeast since 2011 and are now spreading towards the southwest of the country.

METHODS

In 2020, during a surveillance program for invasive mosquito species in the district of Bergamo (Lombardy Region, Italy), about 6000 mosquito larvae were collected. Emerged adults were assigned to mosquito species according to morphological analyses, followed by amplification and sequencing of genetic markers (COI, ND4, ITS2 and D2).

RESULTS

According to the morphological and genetic data, about 50 individuals belonged to the species Ae. koreicus.

CONCLUSION

We report the presence of Ae. koreicus in the district of Bergamo, which confirms the spread of this species in the north of Italy and raises concerns about its possible role as a vector of diseases in the Alpine area.

Reinertia, a New Subgenus of the Genus Aedes Meigen and Its Type Species Aedes (Reinertia) suffusus (Diptera: Culicidae), Newly Recorded From Bhutan

A new subgenus, Reinertia Somboon, Namgay & Harbach, of the genus Aedes Meigen and its type species, Ae. suffusus Edwards, are described from specimens reared from larvae and pupae found in a tree hole in Bhutan. The scutum of the adults is mostly covered with narrow pale falcate scales. The proboscis, maxillary palpus, tibiae, and tarsi are dark-scaled. The gonocoxite of the male genitalia bears a unique setose basomesal sclerite. The larva closely resembles larvae of the subgenus Downsiomyia Vargus in having setae 4-6-C with numerous branches and inserted more or less on level with seta 7-C, abdominal seta 12-I is present and the comb is composed of 6-10 spine-like scales arranged in an irregular row. Surprisingly, Reinertia shares features of the adult habitus, male genitalia, and larva with the Palearctic subgenus Dahliana Reinert, Harbach & Kitching. However, in phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial COI gene of species representing 38 subgenera of Aedes and six other genera of the tribe Aedini Neveu-Lemaire, Reinertia was not associated with Dahliana or Downsiomyia. In both maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of the data, Ae. suffusus was recovered as the weakly supported sister of a clade composed of five species of the subgenus Protomacleaya Theobald. In the absence of strong support, and because Protomacleaya is an unnatural group of species that resemble each other phenetically by virtue of what they lack, Ae. suffusus cannot be placed in the subgenus Protomacleaya. Thus, the morphological and molecular data attest the uniqueness of Ae. suffusus and its recognition as a monobasic subgeneric lineage.

Culex bhutanensis, a new species of the Mimeticus Subgroup of the nominotypical subgenus of the genus Culex Linnaeus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Bhutan

Culex bhutanensis Somboon, Namgay & Harbach is described as a new species of the Mimeticus Subgroup of the subgenus Culex Linnaeus. Based on morphological distinctions and phylogenetic analysis of COI sequences, the new species is a member of the Mimulus Complex. The adults have wing markings similar to those of Cx. mimulus Edwards and Cx. murrelli Lien, but are distinguished by the presence of a line of pale scales or scattered pale scales along the posterior margin of the proximal portion of the costa. The larva is most similar to the larva of Cx. orientalis Edwards from Japan and South Korea, but is distinguished by the form of the comb scales, pecten spines and seta 2-X. The pupa differs from the pupae of other species of the subgroup in having seta 8-C with more branches. The immature stages of the new species were found in rice paddies, stagnant pools and marshes at high altitudes in several districts of Bhutan.