Trichoprosopon nivipes Theobald, 1901 [subjective synonym of Trichoprosopon digitatum (Rondani, 1848). [Theobald (1901) introduced the family-group name Trichoprosoponini (correction of Trichoprosoponina) for this genus.]
Subfamily Culicinae, tribe Sabethini. Trichoprosopon includes 13 species. The genus is not divided into subgenera. Genus abbreviation – Tr.
The adults of Trichoprosopon are distinguished from other genera in the New World by the following combination of characters: proboscis relatively short, about as long as forefemur; antepronota relatively small and separated; prespiracular setae and mesopostnotal setae present; postprocoxal scales absent; lower mesokatepisternal setae extended above lower edge of mesepimeron; laterotergite with some sparse scales distally. The genus includes some species with setae on the clypeus. Larvae are recognised by the presence of a circular occipital foramen with a distinct collar, maxilla with a maxillary brush and the cardo fused with the base of the palpus, complete hypostomal suture, absence of seta 8-M, and the absence of pecten spines and midventral filaments on the siphon. Larvae have seta 13-T inserted on a common plate with setae 9–12-T, a feature which is otherwise only found in species of Kimia, Isostomyia and Trichoprosopon (Harbach et al., 2007; Campos & Zavortink, 2010). See Sabethini.
The phyletic affinities of Trichoprosopon are not definitely known. The genus was recovered as the basal clade within a monophyletic assemblage of New World sabethine genera in the cladistic analysis of Judd (1996). Its relationships with other New World genera were unresolved in the analysis of Harbach & Kitching (1998), and was recovered as the sister of Johnbelkinia + Runchomyia when genus Onirion was included in their data set (Harbach & Peyton, 2000). When Harbach et al. (2007) included genus Kimia in the latter data set, Trichoprosopon was paired with the Old World genus Tripteroides in a sister relationship with Kimia. Speculation about a close relationship between Trichoprosopon and Tripteroides has existed since Lee (1946) could find no clear distinctions to separate them. The phylogenetic relationships of the species of Trichoprosopon are unknown.
Trichoprosopon are basically forest mosquitoes. Larvae are found in small containers of water. They have been collected from bamboo, fallen leaves and spathes, cacao pods, coconut shells, nuts (monkey pods), flower bracts of Heliconia, leaf axils, tree holes and artificial containers. Females of a few species are known to bite humans in shaded areas during the daytime.
Trichoprosopon digitatum is regarded as a potential vector of arboviruses to humans. Pixuna and Wyeomyia viruses have been isolated from this species; Bussuquara, Ilheus and St. Louis encephalitis viruses have been isolated from mixed pools that included this species.
Species of Trichoprosopon occur in Central and South America.
Lane, 1953 (in part); Forattini, 1965; Zavortink, 1979 (genus as currently defined); Darsie, 1985 (keys, Argentina).
andinum Levi-Castillo, 1953
brevipes (da Costa Lima, 1931)
castroi Lane & Cerqueira, 1942
compressum Lutz, 1905
subspecies compressum Lutz, 1905
subspecies mogilasium (Dyar & Knab, 1907)
digitatum (Rondani, 1848)
subspecies digitatum (Rondani, 1848)
subspecies townsendi Stone, 1944
evansae Antunes, 1942
lampropus (Howard, Dyar & Knab, 1913)
lanei (Antunes, 1937)
obscurum Lane & Cerqueira, 1942
pallidiventer (Lutz, 1905)
simile Lane & Cerqueira, 1942
soaresi Lane & Cerqueira, 1942
vonplesseni (Dyar & Knab, 1906)
cotopaxense Levi-Castillo, 1953
hyperleucum (Martini, 1931)