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Type: Correspondence
Published: 2015-12-07
Page range: 573–576
Abstract views: 35
PDF downloaded: 2

Morphological variation in diagnostic features for two Culex (Culex) species of the Neotropical Region (Diptera: Culicidae) 

Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET-UNC). Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, ARGENTINA
Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET-UNC). Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, ARGENTINA
Diptera Culicidae Argentina

Abstract

The classification of Culex L., with 768 species worldwide (Harbach 2015), is based mainly on adult anatomical characters (Harbach et al. 2012). The accurate identification of the 198 species included in the subgenus Culex is dependent on a few morphological characters, principally of the male genitalia (Harbach et al. 2012). Most species within Culex (Culex) have been described based on male genitalia due to their low intraspecific variability compared to characters of females and larvae. Male genitalia provide synapomorphic characters useful in establishing phylogenetic relationships in Culicidae (Reinert et al. 2008, Reidenbach et al. 2009, Harbach et al. 2012, Laurito & Almirón 2013), as well as autapomorphic traits allowing specific identifications.