Subgenus Kitzmilleria Danilov, 1989
Culex moucheti Evans, 1923.
Subfamily Culicinae, genus Culex. Subgenus Kitzmilleria is monobasic. See Culex classification, Subgenus Kitzmilleria). Subgenus abbreviation – Kit.
ADULTS – Erect scales of vertex nearly all orange, decumbent scales white; clypeus usually with a few small pale scales on distal margins; antennal pedicel usually orange; maxillary palpus of males longer than proboscis, moderately setose, dark-scaled; acrostichal setae present; 2–5 lower mesepimeral setae present; wing entirely dark-scaled; hindfemur with black dorsal stripe from base gradually widening to apex but allowing pale scaling of anterior surface to extend almost to apex ventrally, tibiae and tarsi dark-scaled; abdominal terga with basolateral pale patches that are larger and visible dorsally on terga VI and VII, tergum VIII with basal pale band. MALE GENITALIA – Gonocoxite without scales; subapical lobe undivided, with 8 more or less specialised setae generally developed as in species of subgenus Culex; phallosome somewhat as in subgenus Barraudius and genus Lutzia, each half divided into 2 prongs, outer longer than inner and minutely ridged apically; paraproct as in most Culex except basal arm extends obliquely instead of at a right angle. LARVAE – Antenna short, about 0.25 length of head; setae 5,6-C widely spaced, inserted far forward near seta 7-C; seta 4-C minute, inserted far forward; seta 1-P as long as setae 2,3-P; some dorsal setae of meso- and metathorax and some dorsal and ventral setae of abdominal segments I-VII apparently highly reduced or absent; comb with 2–5 peculiar short broad scales; siphon exceptionally short, pecten absent, 2 pairs of very small posterolateral seta 1a-S, 1 pair of very small subapical seta 2a-S; saddle relatively small, without spicules; seta 1-X large with multiple branches; seta 2-X multi-branched; seta 3-X single; ventral brush (seta 4-X) and grid absent. PUPAE – Setae 2,3,5,6-CT large with multiple branches; trumpets short, laticorn, with longest axis transverse to stem, tracheoid area absent; seta 1-I rather stout; seta 9-VII,VII large with numerous branches, half length of paddle; paddle large, broad, apex emarginate; seta 1-Pa and seta 2-Pa absent. See genus Culex.
The affinities of Kitzmilleria are not clear. Danilov (1989) regarded the subgenus to be closely related to subgenera Afroculex and Barraudius based on shared anatomical features of the larvae and male genitalia. Danilov also noted that Kitzmilleria and Barraudius share similarities with genus Lutzia. However, the analysis of St John (2007) indicated that Kitzmilleria is probably more closely related to species of subgenus Maillotia than other Afrotropical groups. Based on the character data analysed in the study of Harbach et al. (2012), Kitzmilleria appears to be most closely related to subgenus Acallyntrum and the Atriceps Group of subgenus Culex in the Australasian Region.
Females are thought to feed principally on birds but are known to attack humans during day and night in forests and plantations in western Uganda. Larvae have been found in a variety of habitats that include holes in fallen papaya trees, cavities in banana and oil palm stumps, banana axils, fallen leaves, snail shells, small puddles, ditches and pit latrines.
The single species of subgenus Kitzmilleria is of no medical importance to humans.
Equatorial zone of Africa from Kenya westward to Sierra Leone.
Edwards, 1941 (as species of subgenus Culex, adults, distribution); Hopkins, 1952 (as species of subgenus Culex, larva, bionomics); Danilov, 1989 (taxonomy, morphology, distribution).
moucheti Evans, 1923
