Wing diagnostic characters for Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex nigripalpus (Diptera, Culicidae)

Author(s)

Vidal, Paloma Oliveira ^[1] ; Peruzin, Maria Cristina ^[1] ; Suesdek, Lincoln ^{[2, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Programa Posgrad Mestrado Ciencias Biol Relacao P, BR-05508 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Inst Butantan Parasitol, BR-05509300 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Entomologia; v. 55, n. 1, p. 134-137, JAN-MAR 2011.
• Web of Science Citations: 18

Abstract

Wing diagnostic characters for Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex nigripalpus (Diptera, Culicidae). Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex nigripalpus are mosquitoes of public health interest, which can occur sympatrically in urban and semiurban localities. Morphological identification of these species may be difficult when specimens are not perfectly preserved. In order to suggest an alternative taxonomical diagnosis, wings of these species were comparatively characterized using geometric morphometrics. Both species could be distinguished by wing shape with accuracy rates ranging from 85-100%. Present results indicate that one can identify these species relying only on wing characters when traditional taxonomical characters are not visible. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/05164-8 - Population characterization of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera:Culicidae): molecular, karyotypic and morphometric aspects
• Grantee: Maria Cristina Jurcovichi Peruzin
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 06/02622-5 - Populational characterization of Culicidae of medical importance: molecular, karyotypic and morphometric aspects
• Grantee: Lincoln Suesdek Rocha
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants