Subgenus Aedimorphus Theobald, 1903

Species of subgenus Aedimorphus are distinguished from species of other generic-level taxa of Aedini by the following combinations of characters. Characters that diagnose Aedimorphus in the phylogenetic analyses of Reinert et al. (2009), based on features observed in 20 species that are currently included in the subgenus, are indicated by an asterisk (*).

ADULTS – Vertex of head with narrow decumbent scales medially, erect forked scales usually numerous, on vertex and occiput; eyes usually narrowly separated above antennal pedicels; antenna of females long, normally as long or longer than proboscis, shorter than proboscis in males with numerous flagellar setae directed mainly dorsally and ventrally; maxillary palpus of females short, about 0.15–0.30 length of proboscis, with 5 palpomeres, palpomere 5 vestigial if present; maxillary palpus of males usually longer than proboscis, with 5 palpomeres, palpomeres 4 and 5 usually thickened, setose and turned downward, rarely slender, bare and turned upward; proboscis usually distinctly longer than forefemur; scutum with narrow scales; acrostichal setae and dorsocentral setae well developed, numerous; scutellum with narrow, broad or both narrow and broad scales; paratergite with or without scales; antepronotum and postpronotum usually with narrow scales; upper proepisternum with numerous setae; pleural scaling varied, postspiracular area, subspiracular area and prealar area with or without scales (*upper prealar scales present); lower mesepimeral setae absent; hindtarsomeres entirely dark-scaled or with basal pale bands; both ungues of foreleg and midleg of females toothed, fore- and midungues of males enlarged, toothed, hindungues usually simple in both sexes but sometimes toothed; abdominal segment I usually extensively scaled, laterotergite with large scale-patch, terga of males with numerous lateral setae. FEMALE GENITALIA – Segment VIII largely or completely retracted into preceding segment; sternum VIII with deep posteromedian emargination separating broadly rounded lobes; cercus long, narrow, usually without scales; postgenital lobe with median apical indentation; insula tongue-like, with tuberculi on distal 0.25, each usually with minute seta; 3 spermathecal capsules present. MALE GENITALIA – Tergum VIII sometimes widened posteriorly; tergum IX usually narrowed medially, ninth tergal lobes more or less distinct, with or without setae; sternum IX usually with postmedian row of setae; gonocoxite without distinct apical and basal tergomesal lobes, mesal surface membranous from base to apex; gonostylus usually expanded distally, with 1 or more gonostylar claws (*most proximal gonostylar claw inserted some distance from apex); claspette represented by short process or setose plaque at base of gonocoxite; aedeagus comprised of 2 lateral plates, each with distolateral teeth; paraproct with blunt or rounded apex, *sternal arm present;  cercal setae usually absent, present in some African species. LARVAE – Extremely varied; antenna usually long, spiculate, seta 1-A strongly developed, usually multi-branched; seta 4-C small, multi-branched, inserted closer to seta 5-C than to seta 6-C; setae 5,6-C strongly developed, usually inserted close together on level or posterior to seta 7-C; thoracic and abdominal chaetotaxy not studied for most species; seta 12-I absent; seta 6-III branched; *setae 1,2-VIII inserted on common setal support plate; comb of segment VIII varied, comb scales few in single row or numerous in large patch, scales squamiform or spine-like; siphon usually long, siphon index ≥ 3.0, pecten varied, distal pecten spines usually simple, always more widely spaced than proximal spines; seta 1-S multi-branched, *length ≤ 0.40 width of siphon, inserted distal to pecten; saddle incomplete, acus present or absent; seta 1-X often single, single to 4-branched; seta 2-X usually multi-branched; ventral brush (seta 4-X) with 3 or 4 precratal setae and 8–14 setae on grid with lateral and transverse bars. PUPAE – Trumpet short, only slightly widened distally, tracheoid area present or absent, weakly developed if present; seta 8-C inserted cephalad to or at level of trumpet base; setae 10,11-C approximated, 10-C multi-branched, 11-C single; genital lobe of females usually prominent; paddle ovoid, marginal spicules usually small or inconspicuous; seta 1-Pa short, single to triple. See genus Aedes.