Culex

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For other uses, see Culex (disambiguation).
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Culex
Culex quinquefasciatus
Culex quinquefasciatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Culicidae
Genus: Culex
Linnaeus, 1758
Diversity
1216 species
Species

C. annulirostris
C. antennatus
C. jenseni
C. pipiens
C. pusillus
C. quinquefasciatus
C. rajah
C. restuans
C. salinarius
C. tarsalis
C. territans
C. theileri
C. tritaeniorhynchus
many more

Culex is a genus of mosquito, and several species act as vectors of important diseases, such as West Nile virus, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis and avian malaria.

The adult mosquito can measure from 4-10 mm, and morphologically is mainly composed of a head, thorax, and abdomen. It also possesses wings which enable it to fly and act as a very important factor in its disease spreading abilities.

Contents

[edit] Life Cycle

The developmental cycle takes 2 weeks and is by complete metamorphosis (This means the developmental stages change in morphology and not only in size).

Eggs are laid singly or in batches, according to the species. They hatch in the presence of water. In the larval stage the mosquito lives in water and feeds on organic matter and plants, then develops into a pupa. The pupa is comma shaped. It does not feed and becomes an adult after one or two days.

[edit] Diversity

See also: List of Culex species

There exists a vast variety of Culex species. In Panama alone, 88 species were described by 1955.

[edit] Subgenera

  • Acalleomyia
  • Acallyntrum
  • Aedinus
  • Afroculex
  • Allimanta
  • Anoedioporpa
  • Barraudius
  • Belkinomyia
  • Carrollia
  • Culex
  • Culiciomyia
  • Eumelanomyia
  • Kitzmilleria
  • Lasiosiphon
  • Lophoceraomyia
  • Maillotia
  • Melanoconion
  • Micraedes
  • Microculex
  • Neoculex
  • Nomina Dubia
  • Oculeomyia
  • Phenacomyia
  • Rejected Names
  • Sirivanakarnius
  • Tinolestes

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

  • Galindo, P & Blanton, F.S. (1955). An annotated list of the Culex of Panama (Diptera, Culicidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 57(2):68-74. PDF - with links to publications

[edit] External links

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