Aedes, 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 : 107-110

Key to subgenera and species of Aedes : females

1 Proboscis not longer than forefemur...................................................................... 2

- Proboscis distinctly longer than forefemur.................................................................. 6

2(1) Scutum without white markings on dark brown or black background; scutellum without broad white scales; tarsomeres without pale rings; abdominal terga without transverse pale bands; maxillary palpus entirely dark-scaled (subgenus Aedes )........................................................................................... cinereus (see Note 10)

- Scutum with longitudinal white stripes or white spots on dark brown or black background; scutellum with broad white scales; tarsomeres with pale rings; abdominal terga with transverse pale bands; maxillary palpus with white scales.............. 3

3(2) All femora with preapical white bands; tibiae with median white bands; scutum with 2 or 3 pairs of white spots; cerci long; head with erect scales on vertex and occiput; proboscis with pale yellowish scales occupying about middle 0.33–0.40; lower mesepimeral setae present; lower proepisternal scales absent; acrostichal setae present (subgenus Fredwardsius )..... vittatus

- Femora without preapical white bands; tibiae without median white bands, may have a white stripe or speckles; scutum with or without one pair of white spots, but may have white lines or white scales; cerci very short, hardly visible from above; head with erect scales restricted to occiput; proboscis dark scaled; lower mesepimeral setae absent; lower proepisternal scales present; acrostichal setae absent (subgenus Stegomyia ).............................................................. 4

4(3) Scutum with a pair of submedian longitudinal white stripes, but without median (acrostichal) longitudinal white stripe, lateral white stripes broad continuing over transverse suture to posterior of scutum, with lyre-shaped markings; clypeus with white scale-patches; mesepimeron with 2 well-separated white scale-patches; anterior surface of midfemur with longitudinal white stripe from base to near apex; abdominal sterna III–V pale scaled.......................................... aegypti

- Scutum with a narrow median longitudinal white stripe extending from anterior margin to prescutellar area, where it forks to end at anterior margin of scutellum, lateral stripe narrow and short, not reaching middle of scutum and not continued over transverse suture, never lyre-shaped markings; clypeus without white scale-patches; mesepimeron with white scale-patches not separated, forming V-shaped white patch; anterior portion of midfemur without longitudinal white stripe, dark-scaled with apical pale scale-patch or with some scattered pale scales and a preapical spot; abdominal sterna III–V dark-scaled with basal pale bands........................................................................................... 5

5(4) Scutum without round pale spot; postspiracular area without scales; anterior portion of midfemur dark-scaled with apical pale scale-patch; fore- and midtarsomere ungues (claws) simple............................................. albopictus

- Scutum with 2 round pale spots on posterior part; postspiracular area with broad pale scales; anterior portion of midfemur with some scattered pale scales and a preapical pale spot; fore- and midtarsomere ungues toothed....... unilineatus (see Note 17)

6(1) Hindtarsomeres with narrow basal pale rings less than 0.25 length of tarsomere; abdominal terga with basal pale bands indented medially, with slightly bilobed appearance (subgenus Aedimorphus )......................................... vexans

- Hindtarsomeres with basal pale rings more than 0.25 length of tarsomere or with both basal and apical pale rings, or without rings; abdominal terga without medially indented basal pale bands, with or without bands or pattern of pale and dark scales. 7

7(6) Abdomen with prominent silvery-white lateral patches; cerci short, slightly protruding, blunt; sternum VIII not retracted into preceding segment; pedicel of antenna without scales; hindungues simple; lower mesepimeral setae absent (subgenus Dahliana )........................................................................................... 8

- Abdomen with lateral patches of yellowish or white scales; cerci longer, clearly protruding, tapering; sternum VIII retracted into preceding segment; pedicel of antenna with scales; hindungues toothed; lower mesepimeral setae present (except Ae. flavescens , but abdominal terga entirely pale) (subgenus Ochlerotatus )........................................... 9

8(7) At least some abdominal terga with complete basal pale bands; scutellum with broad white scales; metameron with patch of scales.......................................................................................... echinus

- Abdominal terga with basolateral pale patches only; scutellum with at least a few narrow ochreous scales usually more numerous on lateral lobes; metameron bare................................................................. geniculatus

9(7) Tarsi without rings of pale scales, some white scaling not forming rings may be present............................. 10

- Some tarsomeres with rings of pale scales................................................................. 11

10(9) Abdominal terga with mixture of dark and pale scales posteriorly; first antennal flagellomere without pale scales; hypostigmal area and postprocoxal membrane bare; maxillary palpus with scattered pale scales............................. detritus

- Abdominal terga entirely dark-scaled posteriorly or with few pale scales; first antennal flagellomere with white scales ventrally; hypostigmal area and postprocoxal membrane with pale scales; maxillary palpus with more pale scales and subapical palpomere covered with numerous pale scales............................................................... leucomelas

11(9) Hindtarsomeres with only basal pale rings; hindtarsomere 5 not entirely pale..................................... 12

- Hindtarsomeres with both basal and apical pale rings; hindtarsomere 5 entirely pale............................... 14

12(11) Abdominal terga with pale scales, without dark band, sometimes with a few dark scales; tarsomere 1 of all legs mostly pale except at apex; hindtarsomere 5 with basal pale band; wing mostly pale-scaled; proboscis with pale scales at mid-length and base; large species............................................................................. flavescens

- Abdominal terga with sublateral apical dark patches; tarsomere 1 of all legs mostly dark, but with broad basal pale bands; hindtarsomere 5 entirely dark; wing entirely or mostly dark-scaled; proboscis entirely dark; medium-size species........ 13

13(12) Metameron with scales; wing profusely speckled; tarsomere 4 of all legs pale basally......................... caballus

- Metameron bare; wing almost entirely dark-scaled; tarsomere 4 of all legs indistinctly pale basally................. chelli *

14(11) Proboscis entirely dark; abdominal terga with basal pale bands; wing entirely dark-scaled except for small patch at base of costa (C); lower proepisternal scales absent; metameron bare; tarsomere 5 of all legs pale; hypostigmal area bare (Pulcritarsis Complex) (see Note 12)............................................................................... 15

- Proboscis with pale scaling in middle; abdominal terga with median pale stripes, sometimes entirely pale-scaled; wing with dark and pale scales; lower proepisternal scales present; metameron with scales; only hindtarsomere 5 pale; hypostigmal scales present (Caspius Complex)............................................................................. 17

15(14) Femora and tibiae without scattered pale scales; scutum predominantly brown-scaled; erect scales of head entirely or predominantly dark............................................................................. berlandi *

- Femora and tibiae with scattered pale scales; scutum with anteromedian patch of golden scales; erect scales of head entirely or predominantly pale................................................................................... 16

16(15) Scutum with a narrow longitudinal stripe of white scales; basal pale band on abdominal tergum VI complete and normal.................................................................................................. asiaticus

- Scutum without longitudinal pale stripe; basal pale band on abdominal tergum VI very narrow................ pulcritarsis

17(14) Scutum golden-scaled with 2 narrow dorsocentral stripes of white scales reaching posterior margin; acrostichal setae absent; wing veins with dark and pale scales more or less evenly mixed; bases of costa (C) and subcosta (Sc) mostly dark-scaled; radius (R) and anal vein (1A) with dark and pale scales; pale scaling of abdominal terga mainly yellowish............ caspius s.l.

- Scutum with narrow to broad stripes of median golden (to dark brown) scales, reaching the prescutellar dorsocentral area, and white to creamy scales laterally; acrostichal setae present; wing veins predominantly with pale scales; bases of C and Sc and veins R and 1A predominantly white-scaled, occasionally with few dark scales; pale scaling of abdominal terga white................................................................................................... dorsalis *

Key to subgenera and species of Aedes : fourth-instar larvae

1 Siphon without acus (auricle) (indistinct acus in Ae. vittatus )................................................... 2

- Siphon with well-developed acus......................................................................... 5

2(1) Pecten with 1, sometimes 2, apical spines distinctly separated from other spines beyond seta 1-S; antenna very sparsely spiculate; seta 1-A with 2 or 3 branches, inserted slightly before mid-length of shaft; seta 4-X with 2 or more precratal setae; seta 4,6-C inserted on level with base of antenna; seta 4-C minute, with 2–4 fine branches; seta 5-II–V single, rarely double; anal papillae (gills) wide at base and pointed apically, more than 2.0 length of the saddle (subgenus Fredwardsius ).............. vittatus

- Pecten with spines equally spaced, sometimes 1 or 2 apical spines slightly more widely separated but not distinctly and not beyond seta 1-S; antenna smooth; seta 1-A single, inserted slightly beyond mid-length of shaft; seta 4-X without precratal setae; setae 4,6-C inserted far forward on head; seta 4-C well developed, usually with 5 (4–7) branches; seta 5-II–V branched; anal papillae sausage-shaped with round ends, 2.5–3.0 length of the saddle (subgenus Stegomyia )......................... 3

3(2) Comb scales spine-like with stout subapical spicules; basal tubercle of setae 9–12-M,T strongly sclerotized, curved and pointed, spine-like; seta 4-X with 5 pairs of setae, each usually 2-branched (2 or 3); seta 7-C single, rarely double........... aegypti

- Comb scales without subapical spicules or with very inconspicuous subapical spicules; basal tubercle of setae 9–12-M,T with only small denticles; seta 4-X with 4 pairs of setae, each usually single; seta 7-C usually with 2 or more branches, rarely single............................................................................................... 4

4(3) Abdominal segments without stellate setae; seta 1-X with 2 branches; seta 4d-X well developed with bars; grid bars of seta 4-X well developed; saddle incomplete, not encircling segment X........................................... albopictus

- Abdominal segments with some stellate setae; seta 1-X often with more than 2 branches (3–5); seta 4d-X very small, much smaller than 4a,b,c-X without bars; grid bars of seta 4-X absent or poorly developed; saddle complete, encircling segment X............................................................................... unilineatus (see Note 17)

5(1) Pecten with 1, sometimes 2, apical spines distinctly separated from other spines, more curved and stouter than others and usually without secondary denticles; seta 1-S small, length about 0.5 width of siphon at point of attachment; seta 12-I absent. ................................................................................................... 6

- Pecten with spines regularly or irregularly spaced but without apical curved and stout distinctly separated spines; seta 1-S large, length more than 0.5 width of siphon at point of attachment (except Ae. caballus ); seta 12-I present.................... 7

6(5) Median filaments of lateral palatal brush (LPB) not apically serrate, all simple; setae 5–7-C in a curved row; seta 6-C with 5 or more branches (rarely 3 or 4); (subgenus Aedes )............................................ cinereus (see Note 10)

- Median filaments of LPB apically serrate; setae 5–7-C in a triangular pattern; seta 6-C with 1 or 2 (rarely 3) branches (subgenus Aedimorphus ).................................................................................... vexans

7(5) Thorax and abdomen with stellate setae; antenna smooth, without spicules; pecten spines long, pointed, equally spaced (subgenus Dahliana ).................................................................................. 8

- Thorax and abdomen without stellate setae; antenna spiculate even if only sparsely; pecten spines short, not spine-like, with a broad base (subgenus Ochlerotatus )....................................................................... 9

8(7) Pecten about 0.5 length of siphon, usually with 18–22 (15–27) spines; setae 1,2,5-I (stellate setae of abdominal segment I) obviously longer than segment, some with 5–10 branches; seta 6-III–VI long and stout; dorsal pair of anal papillae (gills) about 2.0 length of ventral pair and distinctly longer than the saddle............................................. echinus

- Pecten distinctly less than 0.5 length of siphon, usually with 15 (14–20) spines; setae 1,2,5-I about as long as segment, at most 6-branched; setae 6-III–VI shorter and more slender; dorsal pair of anal papillae about 1.5 length ventral pair and slightly longer than the saddle............................................................................... geniculatus

9(7) Median filaments of lateral palatal brush (LPB) not apically serrate; antenna sparsely spiculate; anal papillae very long at least 2.0 length of the saddle; seta 1-X at least 2.0 length of the saddle; head about as broad as long; length of seta 1-S at least 2.0 width of siphon at point of attachment, inserted well below mid-length of siphon (Pulcritarsis Complex) (see Note 12).... 10

- Median filaments of LPB apically serrate; antenna largely spiculate; anal papillae less than 2.0 length of the saddle; seta 1-X less than 2.0 length of the saddle; head broader than long; seta 1-S shorter than 2.0 width of siphon at point of attachment, inserted at or beyond mid-length of siphon (may be slightly below mid-length in Ae. dorsalis and Ae. leucomelas )....... 12

10(9) Seta 1-S inserted at about 0.33 from base of siphon, length more than 2.0 width of siphon at point of attachment; comb usually with 16–20 scales, often arranged in an irregular triangular patch; siphon index (SI) usually more than 5.0 (3.5–7.8); dorsal pair of anal papillae longer than ventral pair; seta 1-A inserted well beyond mid-length of antenna.................. berlandi *

- Seta 1-S at about 0.5 of siphon length, shorter than 2.0 width of siphon at point of attachment; comb with 6–11 scales in a single row; SI usually less than 5.0 (3.0–5.2); anal papillae equally long; seta 1-A inserted on or slightly beyond mid-length of antenna............................................................................................ 11

11(10) Anal papillae usually twice as long as siphon, and twice as long as seta 2-X; comb scales bluntly pointed; pecten with 16–18 spines; siphon index (SI) 3.0–3.5; siphon slightly tapering from mid-length toward apex....................... asiaticus

- Anal papillae usually as long as siphon, and as long as seta 2-X; comb scales sharply pointed; pecten with 17–24 spines; SI 4.0–5.0; siphon slightly but uniformly tapering toward apex........................................... pulcritarsis

12(9) Seta 4-X with 4–7 precratal setae (arising anterior to grid); seta 1-X about 1.3 length of the saddle; siphon index (SI) greater than 3.0 (3.2–4.0).............................................................................. flavescens

- Seta 4-X with no more than 3 precratal setae; seta 1-X shorter than 1.3 length of the saddle, usually at most as long as the saddle; SI usually not more than 3.0............................................................................ 13

13(12) Seta 1-A single or double; comb with about 10 large scales with secondary denticles confined to the base; length of seta 1-S at most 0.5 width of siphon at point of attachment; anal papillae about 1.5 length of the saddle.................... caballus

- Seta 1-A with more than 3 branches; comb with more than 10 (usually more than 20) scales or spines; seta 1-S longer than 0.5 width of siphon at point of attachment; anal papillae no longer than the saddle, usually shorter....................... 14

14(13) Comb with more than 25 (usually more than 35) scales, without apical spine; anal papillae spherical and very short; setae 2–6-P usually single; setae 5-C with 2–5 branches; seta 6-C usually with 2 or 3 branches, rarely single.................. detritus

- Comb with fewer than 25 scales, at least some scales with long apical spine; anal papillae not spherical; at least one of setae 2–6-P branched; setae 5-C usually single, rarely with 2 branches; seta 6-C usually single, rarely with 2 or 3 branches..... 15

15(14) Central cratal setae of seta 4-X with long main basal stem, at least 1.5–2.0 length of transverse grid bars; anal papillae tapering; seta 1-X nearly as long as the saddle.............................................................. leucomelas

- Central cratal seta 4-X branched from near base, main stem subequal to length of transverse grid bars; anal papillae rounded; seta 1-X short, about 0.5 length of the saddle (Caspius Complex).............................................. 16

16(15) Seta 1-S inserted beyond mid-length of siphon, usually with more than 5 (5–10) branches; seta 1-III–VI short with more than 2 simple branches; seta 3-VIII usually with more than 8 branches; seta 1-P usually single...................... caspius s.l.

- Seta 1-S inserted at about mid-length of siphon, usually with fewer than 5 (3–6) branches; seta 1-III–VI long with 2 aciculate branches; seta 3-VIII usually with fewer than 8 branches; seta 1-P usually double............................ dorsalis *