Revisão taxonômica dos Grupos Atratus e Educator do subgênero Melanoconion de Culex (Diptera, Culicidae) / Taxonomic review of the Atratus and Educator Groups of the subgenus Melanoconion of Culex (Diptera, Culicidae)

Entre os múltiplos grupos que compõem as Seções Spissipes e Melanoconion do subgênero Melanoconion de Culex, Atratus e Educator apresentam espécies que estão envolvidas na transmissão de arbovírus ao ser humano e animais em ambientes rurais e silvestres. Porém, esses grupos exibem grande dificuldade na identificação das espécies, seja devido à grande semelhança morfológica entre seus representantes ou à falta de chaves de identificação atualizadas. Diante disso, objetivou-se realizar a revisão taxonômica das espécies pertencentes aos Grupos Atratus e Educator da Seção Melanoconion de Culex (Melanoconion). Para isso, foi realizado o estudo morfológico detalhado das diversas fases de desenvolvimento dos espécimes de interesse, verificada a existência de espécies a serem nomeadas e/ou espécies válidas colocadas na sinonímia de outras. Como resultado do estudo morfológico das espécies do Grupo Atratus, foram redefinidas oito espécies. Destas, duas foram validadas, pois estavam na sinonímia de outras e seis espécies desconhecidas da ciência foram descritas e serão formalmente nomeadas. Para o Grupo Educator, oito espécies foram descritas, sendo uma removida da sinonímia e três espécies desconhecidas da ciência foram descritas e serão formalmente nomeadas. Chaves de identificação ilustradas, com caracteres usados para o reconhecimento das espécies, foram elaboradas para todas as formas de desenvolvimento das espécies de ambos os grupos. Foram construídos mapas de distribuição geográfica das espécies, foram atualizados dados bionômicos, elaboradas ilustrações e pranchas fotográficas para comparação de estruturas morfológicas externas das formas imaturas, adultos e genitália masculina

Among the multiple groups that compose the Spissipes and Melanoconion Sections of the subgenus Melanoconion of Culex, the Atratus and Educator Groups present species that are involved in the transmission of arboviruses to man and animals in rural and wild environments. However, these groups present great difficulty in identifying the species, either because of the great morphological similarity between their representatives or the lack of updated identification keys. The aim of this study was to carry out a taxonomic review of the species belonging to the Atratus and Educator Groups of the Melanoconion Section of Culex (Melanoconion). Therefore, a detailed morphological study of the several stages of development of the specimens of interest was carried out, verifying the existence of species to be named and/or valid species placed in the synonymy of others. As a result of the morphological study of the Atratus Group species, eight species were redefined. Of these, two were resurrected from the synonymy of others and six species unknown to science were described and will be formally named. For the Educator Group, eight species have been described, one being removed from the synonymy and three species unknown to science have been described and will be formally named. Illustrated identification keys, with characters used for species recognition, have been created for all forms of development of species in both Groups. Geographic distribution maps of the species were created, illustrations and photographic plates for comparison of external morphological structures of the immatures forms, adults and male genitalia were provided, and bionomic data were updated

Caracterização de populações de Culex coronator (Diptera: Culicidae) e distinção de fêmeas adultas de Culex coronator e Culex usquatus por meio da análise da morfometria geométrica de asa e de sequências gênicas / Characterization of populations of Culex coronator (Diptera: Culicidae) and differentiation of adult females of Culex coronator and Culex usquatus using wing geometric morphometry and gene sequences

Culex coronator Dyar & Knab e Culex usquatus Dyar são duas espécies irmãs, que fazem parte do Complexo Coronator, composto por mais quatro espécies (Culex usquatissimos Dyar, Culex ousqua Dyar, Culex camposi Dyar, Culex covagarciai Forattini). As fêmeas deste grupo são indistinguíveis por caracteres morfológicos, sendo a identificação possível somente através da distribuição e tamanho das cerdas apicais que ornamentam o gonocoxito da genitália masculina. Cx. coronator, é a espécie com maior distribuição geográfica, ocupando as Américas do Norte, Central e Sul. Já Cx. usquatus só foi registrado nas Américas Central e do Sul, ocorrendo em simpatria no Brasil com Cx. coronator. Apesar da semelhança morfológica das fêmeas das duas espécies, até o momento, somente Cx. coronator foi encontrado naturalmente infectado por diversas arboviroses. Considerando que estudos populacionais são importantes para compreender a evolução e a dinâmica de populações de pontencias vetores, e que a correta identificação de fêmeas é fundamental para estudos de competência vetorial, os objetivos deste trabalho foram: (1) distinguir fêmeas adultas de Cx. coronator de Cx. usquatus (2) obter conhecimento da estrutura populacional de Culex coronator nas regiões Sul e Sudeste (3) examinar a possível existência de outras espécies não descritas e/ou incorretamente identificadas sob o epíteto de Cx. coronator. Para tanto foram utilizadas duas ferramentas: uma morfológica (morfometria de asa), e outra genética...

Culex coronator and Culex usquatus are sibling species belonging to Coronator Group, which comprises five other species (Culex usquatissimos Dyar, Culex ousqua Dyar, Culex camposi Dyar, Culex covagarciai Forattini). Except by Cx. yojae, the females of this group are indistinguishable, being the identification only possible by the analysis of the arrangement and number of appendicles on the apical lobe of the gonocoxite of the male genitalia. Cx. coronator is the most widely distributed species in the complex, occupying North, Central and South America, while Cx. usquatus was recorded only in Central and South America. Therefore, these species are sympatric in Brazil. Despite the morphological similarity of the females of both species, only Cx. coronator has epidemiological importance, being found infected with many arboviruses. Since studies focusing in population structure are important to understand the evolution and dynamics of potencial vectors and that the correct female identification is critical for development of vectorial competence studies, the aims of this study were to: (1) distinguish adult females of Cx. coronator from Cx. usquatus (2) obtain knowledge of the population structure of Culex coronator in Southern and Southeastern areas (3) examine the presence of undescribed and/or incorrectly identified species under Cx. coronator. Thereby, a survey was carried out using morphological (wing geometry) and genetic (4 microsatellite loci and barcode region...

COI barcode versus morphological identification of Culex ( Culex ) (Diptera: Culicidae) species: a case study using samples from Argentina and Brazil

Sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial gene from adults of 22 Culex ( Culex ) species from Argentina and Brazil were employed to assess species identification and to test the usefulness of COI for barcoding using the best close match (BCM) algorithm. A pairwise Kimura two-parameter distance matrix including the mean intra and interspecific distances for 71 COI barcode sequences was constructed. Of the 12 COI lineages recovered in the Neighbour-joining topology, five confirmed recognised morphological species ( Cx. acharistus , Cx. chidesteri , Cx. dolosus , Cx. lygrus and Cx. saltanensis ) with intraspecific divergences lower than 1.75%. Cx. bilineatus is formally resurrected from the synonymy of Cx. dolosus . Cx. maxi , Cx. surinamensis and the Coronator group species included were clustered into an unresolved lineage. The intraspecific distance of Cx. pipiens (3%) was almost twice the interspecific between it and Cx. quinquefasciatus (1.6%). Regarding the BCM criteria, the COI barcode successfully identified 69% of all species. The rest of the sequences, approximately 10%, 18% and 3%, remained as ambiguously, mis and unidentified, respectively. The COI barcode does not contain enough information to distinguish Culex ( Cux. ) species.

Filogenia intraespecífica y variabilidad genética de Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) con los genes mitocondriales ND5 y COI / Intraspecific phylogeny and genetic variability of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) with mitochondrial genes ND5 and COI

Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera; Culicidae) es un mosquito perteneciente al complejo Pipiens con distribución amplia en el mundo y en Venezuela tanto en zonas urbanas como rurales; es acentuadamente antropofílico y vector de varios virus y parásitos mantenidos en la naturaleza en un ciclo enzoótico ave-mosquito-ave. Dicha distribución y ocupación de hábitats larvales de origen antropogénico podría sugerir la presencia de subpoblaciones geográficas que pudieran participar en forma diferencial en la transmisión de patógenos. Los análisis filogenéticos y redes de haplotipos de éste trabajo, con secuencias de los genes mitocondriales (Subunidad I del Citocromo oxidasa y Subunidad 5 de la NADH deshidrogenasa) de poblaciones de Cx. quinquefasciatus colectadas en nueve localidades (cementerios) de Venezuela sugieren alta homogeneidad genética inter-poblacional y una sola entidad filogenética (monofilia). Se demostró que el fragmento del gen COI tiene mayor resolución en la definición de la filogenia de especies cercanas y a nivel de géneros y ajustado con la clasificación actual. El gen ND5 con alta variación es más útil para estudios poblacionales, sin embargo muestra parafilia entre Cx. corniger y Cx. quinquefasciatus, que representa una evidencia de posible homogenización por entrecruzamiento, introgresión o infección por Wolbachia. Las redes de haplotipos sugieren poblaciones en expansión con alta variabilidad haplotípica y heterogeneidad genética intra poblacional y homogeneidad inter poblacional, con implicaciones evolutivas en la dispersión de sus poblaciones y el éxito en áreas urbanas, así como evidencia de posible cuello de botella en poblaciones producto de marcadas campañas de aplicación de insecticidas, información útil en la planificación de futuras estrategias de control sanitario.

Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera, Culicidae) is a mosquito belonging to the Pipiens complex with wide distribution in the world and in Venezuela, both urban and rural. Besides, it is a markedly anthropophilic vector of several viruses and parasites maintained in nature in a cycle enzootic bird-mosquito-bird. The wide distribution and occupation of larval habitats of anthropogenic origin may suggest the presence of geographical subpopulations, which may differentially participate in the transmission of pathogens. Phylogenetic analysis and haplotype networks with sequences of mitochondrial genes (cytochrome oxidase subunit I and subunit 5 of NADH dehydrogenase) of populations collected in nine locations (cemeteries) of Venezuela showed high interpopulation genetic homogeneity and a single phylogenetic entity (monophyly). It demostrated that the COI gene fragment had a higher resolution in the definition of the phylogeny of closely related species and genera level and correlated with the current classification. The ND5 gene variation is highly useful for population studies. However, this gene showed paraphyly between Cx. corniger and Cx. quinquefasciatus as an evidence of possible homogenization by inbreeding, introgression or infection with Wolbachia. The haplotype networks suggest expanding populations with high haplotype variability and genetic heterogeneity occurred within populations. Moreover, the analysis, showed homogeneity among populations with evolutionary implications in the dispersion of their populations and successful occupation in urban areas, as well as evidence of possible population bottleneck as consequence of insecticide control campaigns.

First Record of Culex (Culex) brethesi (Dyar) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

This is the first record of Culex (Culex) brethesi (Dyar) in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The species was identified from specimens collected in a sand bar vegetation with the aid of a Nasci's trap, during an expedition for surveillance of the West Nile Virus in July of 2006, in the city of Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Relações morfométricas e genética populacional de Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) / Morphometric relationships and population genetics of Culex quinquefasciatus

Objetivo. Culex (Culex) quinquefasciatus Say 1823 tem distribuição expansiva em aglomerados humanos e é vetor em ciclos de transmissão de agentes patogênicos, como filarídeos e arbovírus. Taxonomicamente, essa espécie está dentro do subgrupo pipiens, cuja principal característica é a similaridade morfológica dos seus integrantes. Este estudo objetivou caracterizar genética e morfologicamente espécies Cx. quinquefasciatus de dez localidades brasileiras e da região da bacia do Prata, na Argentina. Métodos. Para análises morfológicas foram utilizados valores morfométricos das veias alares de fêmeas e a razão DV/D do edeago, na genitália de machos adultos. Para testes genéticos foram sequenciados os genes mitocondriais cox1 e nd4, clonados fragmentos do segundo espaçador ribossomal ITS2 e analisado o padrão de bandas eletroforéticas do segundo intron do lócus da Acetilcolinesterase (ace2). Resultados. A forma das veias alares de fêmeas agrega dois principais grupos, um com mosquitos do Brasil e outro de La Plata, tendo este último maior variança interna. Esses dados estão relacionados à distribuição encontrada no fragmento ace2, que indica La Plata como área de hibridação entre Cx. quinquefasciatus e Cx. pipiens. Os valores de tamanho da asa apresentam três principais agrupamentos. Um deles em áreas ao norte do Brasil, outro no sudeste e sul, e outro na Argentina. O mesmo ocorre com a razão DV/D da genitália masculina. Os dados de sequências de bases do gene cox1 apresentam polimorfismos, com baixa diversidade e agrupamento populacional na região Sul do Brasil. Os SNPs encontrados são silenciosos, pois não apresentam modificação na estrutura da proteína produzida. O gene nd4 é idêntico em todas as amostras. Esses fragmentos sugerem características de homoplasmia em Cx. quinquefasciatus. O espaçador ITS2 mostrou variedade de polimorfismos, por eventos intra-genômicos de inserção, deleção, translocação e transição de bases...

Culex quinquefasciatus vitellogenesis: morphological and biochemical aspects

The vitellogenic process in Culex quinquefasciatus, which is triggered by a blood meal, involves the synthesis, distribution and storage of the nutrients necessary for embryo development. The fat body of an adult female Cx. quinquefasciatus revealed two cell types: large trophocytes and small, eosinophilic, "oenocyte-like" cells, which show no morphological changes throughout the gonotrophic cycle. Trophocytes, which only begin to synthesise vitellogenin (Vg) 12 h post-blood meal (PBM), undergo a series of morphological changes following engorgement. These changes include the expansion of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and Golgi complex, which are later destroyed by autophagosomes. At 84 h PBM, trophocytes return to their pre-engorgement morphology. The ovarian follicles of non-blood-fed Cx. quinquefasciatus contain a cluster of eight undifferentiated cells surrounded by follicular epithelium. After engorgement, the oocyte membrane facing the perioocytic space increases its absorptive surface by microvilli development; large amounts of Vg and lipids are stored between 24 and 48 h PBM. Along with yolk storage in the oocyte, follicular cells exhibit the development of RER cisternae and electron-dense granules begin to fill the perioocytic space, possibly giving rise to endochorion. Later in the gonotrophic cycle, electron-dense vesicles, which are possible exochorion precursors, fuse at the apical membrane of follicular cells. This fusion is followed by follicular cell degeneration.

Laboratory and field evaluation of an oviposition trap for Culex quinquefasciatus(Diptera: Culicidae)

An ovitrap (BR-OVT) based on physical and chemical stimuli for attracting gravid Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) females was developed and evaluated under laboratory and field conditions. Attractants were assayed using alternative chamber bioassays prior to being used in the BR-OVT oviposition trap. A significant preference of gravid females for sites containing conspecific egg rafts was observed, as a response to the natural oviposition pheromone, as well as for sites treated with the synthetic pheromone erythro-6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide. Five- to 20-day old grass infusion was strongly attractive to gravid females for laying eggs. On the other hand, entomopathogenic Bacillus sphaericus (Bs) did not influence the choice of an oviposition site when used in combination with grass infusion and can therefore be used as a larvicide in ovitraps. Results from field trials showed that the BR-OVT with grass infusion and with or without Bs works as a preferred oviposition site for Cx. quinquefasciatus. The BR-OVT was more effective for egg collection when placed indoors and comparison with the number of egg rafts laid in cesspits over 40 days indicates that this very simple ovitrap may be a useful tool for monitoring populations of the most important of the vectors of bancroftian filariasis.

Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) lanei e Culex (Culex) dolosus (Diptera: Culicidae): duas espécies que ocorrem na região de Campos do Jordão, Serra da Mantiqueira, São Paulo, Brasil / Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) lanei and Culex (Culex) dolosus (Diptera: Culicidae): two species that occur in Campos do Jordão region, Serra da Mantiqueira, São Paulo, Brazil

Introdução: Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) lanei foi descrito por Galvão e Amaral em 1938, a partir de espécimes coletados em Campos de Jordão, na Serra da Mantiqueira, Estado de São Paulo, sendo provável espécie endêmica desta região.Linthicum (1988) redescreveu An. lanei baseando-se em um espécime adulto fêmea e duas genitálias masculinas de Campos do Jordão; porém, a ilustração de genitália masculina foi feita a partir de um espécime coletado na cidade de Estância, Estado de Sergipe, Brasil. Evidências morfológicas somadas a diferenças ambientais entre estas localidades indicam que os espécimes analisados por Linthicum não correspondem a An. lanei. Culex (Culex) dolosus foi descrito por Lynch Arribálzaga em 1891 com base em espécimes coletados na Província de Buenos Aires, Argentina. O último trabalho a tratar de aspectos da morfologia de Cx. dolosus é anterior à descrição de Culex eduardoi Casal & García, espécie similar a esta. Dados de literatura apontam para a existência de formas morfológicas diferenciadas em populações de Cx. dolosus, o que parece ser o caso dos espécimes que ocorrem na região de Campos do Jordão. Objetivos: Este estudo visa contribuir para o conhecimento taxonômico de espécies pertencentes aos subgêneros Nyssorhynchus e Culex, que ocorrem na Serra da Mantiqueira, por meios da redescrição de An. lanei e Cx. dolosus, e também da identificação de fauna de Culicidae associada. Métodos: As redescrições foram baseadas na análise de exemplares coletados na região de Campos do Jordão e implicaram em etapas de quetotaxia das larvas e pupas, biometria dos adultos e formas imaturas e elaboração de ilustrações das estruturas anatômicas da morfologia externa. Resultados: Deste trabalho resultaram redescrições morfológicas detalhadas, tabelas de quetotaxia das formas imaturas e ilustrações das larvas, pupas e estruturas das genitálias masculinas. Considerações Finais: Espera-se que os resultados alcançados possam ampliar e dar continuidade a estudos t...

Culex quinquefasciatus in Phitsanulok as a possible vector of nocturnally periodic Wuchereria bancrofti transmission in Myanmar immigrants.

The present study was undertaken in order to study whether Culex quinquefasciatus collected in Phitsanulok Province can be an insect host for the development of Wuchereria bancrofti larvae. W. bancrofti infected blood from Myanmar workers in Mae Sot, Tak Province was fed to mosquitoes by using the artificial membrane feeding. An infection of W. bancrofti was found with the highest density of L3 in the mosquito thorax on the 14th day after feeding. The infection rate also correlated to the density of microfilaria found in the donor's blood. Our results showed that Cx. quinquefasciatus in Phitsanulok is a possible vector of nocturnally periodic W. bancrofti.

Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand. II. Genera Culex and Lutzia.

Illustrated keys for the identification of the fourth-instar larvae and adult females of the mosquito genera Culex and Lutzia is presented, along with information on the geographic distribution of each species, and bionomics. Eighty-two species belonging to subgenera Culex, Culiciomyia, Eumelanomyia, Lophoceraomyia, and Oculeomyia of genus Culex, and three species belonging to subgenus Metalutzia of genus Lutzia are recognized in Thailand. Subgenus Oculeomyia includes a probable new species near Cx. infula and Lt. vorax is recognized as a new country record.

Variation in morphological characters of Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae), a Japanese encephalitis vector at Mysore, India.

Studies on Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles, were undertaken to find deviation if any, on the mean of siphonal index, comb scales, pecten teeth, denticles on apical pecten tooth, anal gills index and length of basal hair tufts on siphon in the fourth instar larvae from ground pools of Mysore city and paddy fields outside Mysore. A total of 344 larvae including 172 samples from Mysore and 172 samples from a 26 km radius outside Mysore were collected. Analysis of variance demonstrated significant differences between the two populations on 7 parameters based on morphological characteristics such as comb scales, length of siphon, width of siphon at the middle, length of anal gills, siphonal index, anal gills index and the length of basal hair tufts. So Cx. tritaeniorhynchus from different breeding places in and around Mysore city in south India can be different varieties. One variety comparatively has shorter siphon index ratio, less comb scales, less anal gills index ratio and longer basal hair tufts on siphon than the other one. Mating behavior of these varieties show that, variety from the city pools was moderate eurygamous and the one from mainly paddy fields, moderate stenogamous.

Description of immature stages of Culex ocossa Dyar & Knab, Culex delpontei Duret and Culex pereyrai Duret of the Melanoconion subgenus (Diptera: Culicidae)

The larva and pupa of Culex (Melanoconion) ocossa Dyar & Knab are redescribed and those of Culex (Melanoconion) delpontei Duret and Culex (Melanoconion) pereyrai Duret are described from specimens collected in the states of Säo Paulo and Paraná, Brazil. The pupa of Cx. ocossa differs from those of the other two species in having seta 5-IV-VI dark with strongly aciculated branches, and caudolateral angle of segment VIII produced into sharp point, and seta 1-P present; Cx. delpontei can be distinguished from Cx. pereyrai in possessing paddle lightly tanned, trumpet flared, and wing and leg cases lightly tanned, without pattern of dark spots; Cx. pereyrai can be recognized by having wing case with pattern of dark, discontinuously pigmented, longitudinal lines, and trumpet cylindrical, not flared. The larvae of the three species share the presence of seta 2-C placed medially to seta 1-C

Revisäo das espécies do grupo atratus de Culex (Melanoconion) (Diptera: Culicidae) / Revision of the atratus group of Culex (Melanoconion) (Diptera: Culicidae)

Descreve as espécies Cx. atratus, Cx. dunni, Cx. ensiformis, Cx. zeteki, Cx. commevynensis, Cx. trigeminatus e Cx. caribeanus em suas formas imaturas e adulta, inclusive genitália masculina e cibário feminino. Além dos sete taxa conhecidos, säo apresentadas três espécies pertencentes ao grupo, uma delas descrita em suas formas imaturas e outras duas, pela morfologia da genitália masculina. Apresenta histórico da sistemática do grupo, importância médica, distribuiçäo geográfica e dados bionômicos. Fornece chaves de identificaçäo específica e ilustraçöes das espécies estudadas

Pictorial key to the common Indian species of Aedes (Stegomyia) mosquitoes.

The paper provides a simple pictorial key to differentiate common stegomyia species found in urban areas. This key will help medical officers and paramedical staff in demarcating the areas of influence of Aedes aegypti within a Dengue surveillance area.

Culex gnomatos a new species of the Spissipes section of Culex (Melanoconion) (Diptera: Culicidae) from the Amazon region

The adult male and female of Culex (Melanoconion) gnomatos n.sp. are described and compared with Cx. vomerifer Komp, Cx. portesi Senevet & Abonnenc and Cx. sacchetae Sirivanakarn & Jakob. Available data about distribution and bionomics are presented.

Revisäo da seçäo spissipes de culex (melanoconion) (diptera: culicidae) / Revision of the spissipes section of the subgenus melanoconion of culex (diptera: culicidae)

Estudo revisionário da Seçäo Spissipes de Culex (Melanoconion), onde descreve formas adultas, incluídos as genitálias de ambos os sexos e o cibário das fêmeas. Sob o ponto de vista taxonômico, considera a existência atual de 22 espécies válidas das quais duas säo consideradas como novas. Quanto a Culex nicaroensis Duret foi retirada a análise de suas características morfológicas, concluíndo näo pertencer ao subgênero Melanoconion, ficando sem reconhecimento subgenérico. Além disso, procede o estabelecimento da sinonímia de Culex alvarezi Sutil Oramas, Pulido Florenzano & Amarista Menezes com Culex spissipes (Theobald). Leva em consideraçäo vários caracteres de formas supramencionadas, subdivide a Seçäo em grupos e subgrupos, mediante afinidades morfológicas. Sob o ponto de vista biogeográfico säo apresentados os dados disponíveis resultando mapas de distribuiçäo. A importância epidemiológica desse grupo de culicídeos é apresentada mediante o levantamento dos conhecimentos obtidos até agora na literatura. Também elabora chaves para identificaçäo específica

A new species of Cullex (Melanoconion) from the Amazonian Region (Diptera: Culicidae)

Culex (Melanoconion) eknomios, a new species from Amazonian region is described, including the adult, pupal and larval stages. Available data about distribution and binomics are presented

Biometrical variations in haematophagous arthropods. II. DV/D ratio of male terminalia of wild Culex quinquefasciatus SAY (Diptera: Culicidae) in India.

The DV/D ratio of male terminalia is considered as most reliable morphometric feature to distinguish Culex pipiens from Cx. quinquefasciatus. In India although only Cx. quinquefasciatus is known both in the filariasis (Bancroftian) endemic and non-endemic areas, there has been no study on the amounts of morphometric variation among wild strains of this species. This paper reports variation in the DV/D ratio of Cx. quinquefasciatus collected from 7 localities of Delhi (D), Lucknow (L), Patna (P), Varanasi (V), Rajahmundry (R), Jabua (J) and Alleppey (A) between June and October 1986. The mean value of DV/D ratio in all the strains varied from 0.78 to 0.99 with overall mean of 0.89. The range of the ratios was 0.30 to 1.88. There were 1.28 per cent specimens (9 out of 700) with ratio below 0.50 and the rest 98.72 per cent with ratio 0.50 and above. The DV/D ratio of 0.50 should therefore be accepted as lower limit for Cx. quinquefasciatus instead of the earlier established value of 0.40. The coefficient of variation (CV) among the 7 strains indicates the following progression of variability in the DV/D ratio from most stable to most variable strain: L greater than V greater than R greater than A greater than J greater than P greater than D. The range of mean CV values in different strains was very close with most stable L strain 19.19 and most variable D strain 25.92. The amounts of variation, as estimated by coefficient of variation, were found to be significantly different between the following strains: Delhi and Lucknow (P less than 0.01 at 198 df), Lucknow and Patna (P less than 0.05 at 198 df), and Delhi and Varanasi (P less than 0.05 at 198 df).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A new species of culex(Melanoconion) from atlantic tropical system of Souther Brazil (Diptera: Culicidae)

Descreve-se e ilustra-se o macho de culex (Melanoconion anoplicitus, como espécie nova encontrada no sistema tropical atlântico do sul do Brasil, América do Sul. Sua identificaçäo pode ser feita com segurança, graças a aspectos morfológicos da genitália e que lhe säo peculiares