Genus Abraedes Zavortink, 1970
Abraedes papago (Zavotink, 1970), original combination: Aedes (Abraedes) papago.
Subfamily Culicinae, tribe Aedini. Abraedes is monobasic. Genus abbreviation – Ab.
ADULTS - Highly ornamented; integument of head and thorax dark brown to black, strongly contrasting with yellowish to amber integument of abdomen; compound eyes broadly separated above antennae, interocular space with broad flat silvery scales; vertex with few erect scales; decumbent scales broad and flat; proboscis conspicuously longer than forefemur; maxillary palpus short in females, less than 0.3 length of proboscis, apparently comprised of 4 palpomeres, long in males, with 5 palpomeres, palpomeres 4 and 5 bent downward; scutum of thorax with long rows of acrostichal setae and dorsocentral setae, narrow dark scales and conspicuous lines of white and silvery scales; scutellum with patches of large broad flat silvery scales; paratergite with broad flat silvery scales on lower anterior area; pleura with broad flat silvery scales in small dense patches or lines; few setae present on mesokatepisternum, lower mesepimeral setae absent; legs disproportionately short; tarsi marked with white bands or rings; ungues simple in females, anterior unguis of fore- and midlegs larger and toothed in males; wing with plume scales on dorsum of veins Rs, R2+3, R2, R3, middle of M and sometimes apical portion of 1A; caudal terga and sterna with dense lateral patches of outstanding black and iridescent silvery scales. MALE GENITALIA - Tergum IX poorly developed, without lobes, with 1 or 2 fine setae on each side; gonocoxite without lobes and specialised scales; claspette with long simple filament; proctiger unusually long, paraproct without basolateral lobe. LARVAE - Palatal brushes normal; setae 5,7-C inserted about level of antennal base; setae 5,6,7-P on separate tubercles; seta 2-III-V usually inserted anteromesal to seta 1; seta 3-VII relatively short, not reaching base of siphon; seta 12-I absent; seta 13-VI relatively long, usually double or triple, laterad and usually caudad of seta 10-VI; comb with 4 or 5 large spine-like scales; siphon short; without acus; saddle without spines on caudal margin; ventral brush (seta 4-X) weakly developed, with 5 pairs of setae inserted on boss, seta 4a-X short, multiple branched. PUPAE - Trumpet short, tracheoid virtually absent; cephalothoracic setae short; seta 1-II farther from midline than seta 1-I; seta 2-I-VII relatively long and strong, usually inserted anteromesal to seta 1 on segments III-V; seta 5-IV-VI shorter than corresponding tergum; seta 9-II-VI relatively long and strong, becoming longer on posterior segments, usually anterior to insertion of seta 6-II-IV, anterior or posterior to insertion of seta 6-V, posterior to insertion of seta 6-VI; seta 9-VIII relatively far mesad of caudolateral angle of segment; paddle deeply emarginate, outer margin distad of external buttress, inner margin with long filamentous spicules. See Aedini.
Abraedes was recovered as the sister of Lewnielsenius, and this pair was sister to Aztecaedes, in the phylogenetic analysis of Aedini conducted by Reinert et al. (2009). Abraedes was sister to Gymnometopa in the phylogeny of Wilkerson et al. (2015).
Larvae have been reared from eggs collected in a rot hole in an oak tree, but this may not be the normal habitat of the immature stages. Females have been captured while attacking and attempting to bite humans.
The single species of Abraedes is unlikely to be of medical or economic importance to humans.
Southwestern United States.
Zavortink, 1970 (subgenus of Aedes); Zavortink, 1972 (subgenus of Aedes); Reinert et al., 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009 (generic status, morphology, phylogeny); Wilkerson et al., 2015 (as subgenus of Aedes, phylogeny).
papago (Zavortink, 1970)
