subfamilies and genera, Meigen, 1818

Azari-Hamidian, Shahyad & Harbach, Ralph E., 2025, Updated checklist of the mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) known to occur in Iran, with updated keys to the genera, subgenera and species of Aedes, Zootaxa 5636 (1), pp. 102-120 : 107-109

Key to subfamilies and genera : females (with subgenera and species for genera with only one species in the country)

1 Maxillary palpus with 5 palpomeres and about as long as proboscis; scutellum evenly rounded with setae evenly distributed along border; abdominal sterna (and usually also terga) wholly or largely devoid of scales (except An. pulcherrimus , An. stephensi and species of the Hyrcanus Group); radial sector (vein Rs) with basal spur (subfamily Anophelinae ).... Anopheles

- Maxillary palpus with fewer than 5 palpomeres and distinctly shorter than proboscis; scutellum trilobed with setae in 3 distinct groups; abdominal sterna and terga covered with scales; vein Rs without basal spur (subfamily Culicinae )............... 2

2(1) Anal vein (1A) reaching wing margin at about level of fork of cubital vein (Cu); cell R 2 (anterior forked cell of radius) shorter than 0.5 length of radius-two-plus-three ( R 2+3); wing membrane apparently without microtrichia, these visible only under high magnification; proboscis somewhat swollen apically; upper calypter bare; alula bare................................................................................................... Uranotaenia (Pseudoficalbia) unguiculata

- Anal vein reaching wing margin well beyond fork of Cu; cell R 2 more than 0.5 length of vein R 2+3; wing microtrichia visible under low magnification; proboscis not swollen apically; upper calypter with setae or hair-like scales; alula with scales.... 3

3(2) Prespiracular setae present; wing with setae present ventrally at base of subcosta (Sc)......................... Culiseta

‒ Prespiracular setae absent; wing without setae ventrally at base of Sc............................................ 4

4(3) Postspiracular setae present............................................................................. 5

- Postspiracular setae absent.............................................................................. 6

5(4) Wing with very broad, asymmetrical scales; paratergite without scales; ungues (claws) of foreleg simple; abdominal tergum VIII with a row of teeth (comb); abdomen rounded and blunt apically; cerci short, hardly visible.............................................................................................. Mansonia (Mansonioides) uniformis

- Wing with narrow scales, if broad then not conspicuously asymmetrical; paratergite with scales; ungues of foreleg toothed; abdominal tergum VIII without a row of teeth; abdomen generally pointed apically and cerci long (except subgenus Stegomyia )...................................................................................... Aedes

6(4) Length of maxillary palpus more than one-third (about 0.4) length of proboscis; scutum with a unique pattern of white scales on dark background; fore- and midtarsomere 1 longer than the remaining 4 tarsomeres combined; tarsomere 4 shorter than tarsomere 5.................................................................... Orthopodomyia pulcripalpis

- Length of maxillary palpus less than one-third length of proboscis; scutum without such unique pattern; fore- and midtarsomere 1 shorter than tarsomeres 2–5 combined; tarsomere 4 longer than tarsomere 5..................................... 7

7(6) Scales of wing usually broad; hindtarsomere 1 distinctly shorter than hindtibia; ungues (claws) of hindleg large and conspicuous; pulvilli inconspicuous (seta-like).......................................... Coquillettidia (Coquillettidia) richiardii

- Scales of wing usually narrow (except Cx. (Oculeomyia) bitaeniorhynchus ); hindtarsomere 1 as long as or longer than hindtibia (except subgenus Barraudius ); ungues of hindleg small and inconspicuous; pulvilli conspicuous (pad-like).......... Culex

Key to subfamilies and genera: fourth-instar larvae (with subgenera and species for genera with only one species in the country)

1. Siphon absent; seta 1 palmate on some abdominal segments; comb absent; hypostomal sclerite of maxilla (‘cardo’ of Harbach & Knight 1980) bar-like (subfamily Anophelinae ).................................................... Anopheles

- Siphon present; abdominal seta 1 never palmate; comb present; hypostomal sclerite of maxilla broad and flat (subfamily Culicinae )........................................................................................... 2

2(1) Comb scales arising from lateral or dorsolateral plate on abdominal segment VIII; seta 1-C on small conical projection; hypostomal suture incomplete, not reaching posterior tentorial pit (PTP)......... Uranotaenia (Pseudoficalbia) unguiculata

- Comb scales arising from unsclerotized integument; seta 1-C not on projection; hypostomal suture well developed, extending to PTP.............................................................................................. 3

3(2) Siphon attenuated and pointed, with saw for piercing plant tissues............................................... 4

- Siphon sub-cylindrical with blunt apex, not adapted for piercing plant tissues...................................... 5

4(3) Portion of antenna beyond setae 2,3-A (flagellar segment) very long and flexible; comb with 4–10 scales with apical spine...................................................................... Coquillettidia (Coquillettidia) richiardii

- This portion of antenna much shorter and rigid; comb with 1–3 scales without apical spine................................................................................................... Mansonia (Mansonioides) uniformis

5(3) Sclerotized plates present on abdominal segments VII–VIII; siphon without pecten........... Orthopodomyia pulcripalpis

- No sclerotized plates on abdominal segments VII–VIII; siphon with pecten....................................... 6

6(5) Siphon with 3 or more pairs of seta 1-S................................................................ Culex

- Siphon with only 1 pair of seta 1-S....................................................................... 7

7(6) Seta 1-S (siphonal tuft) inserted at base of siphon...................................................... Culiseta

- Seta 1-S inserted well beyond base of siphon, at about 0.33 or beyond....................................... Aedes