A Revised Nomenclature for the Chaetotaxy of the Mosquito Larva (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

The proposed uniform numerical nomenclature for 193 pairs or groups of hairs of general occurrence on the 4th instar larva of the subfamily Culicinae is based on the Martini system. Criteria for determining general and serial homologies of hairs are reviewed and the conclusion reached that the most reliable criterion on all tagmata is position in relation to morph. landmarks and to certain fixed hairs rather than the degree of development of the hairs. Changes, consistent with this interpretation, are proposed in the existing nomenclature of the thoracic and proximal abdominal segments. The lateral and ventral hairs of the head capsule proper are renumbered to allow for a separate numerical sequence for the hairs of the antenna and the mouthparts. An arbitrary, non-homologous numerical sequence is proposed for the hairs of each of the following: 8 th abdominal segment proper; spiracular lobe of anophelines and siphon of culicines; and the anal segment. Tables, showing the synonymy of the various nomenclatures and the proposed changes, and drawings of Anopheles walkeri and Uranotaenia atra, labelled with the revised nomenclature, are given.