Tribe Orthopodomyiini Belkin, Heinemann & Page, 1970
Orthopodomyia Theobald, 1904. [“Orthopodomyiini” of Belkin (1962: 117) is a nomen nudum (Sabrosky, 1999) because family-group names published after 1930 must be accompanied by a verbal description or definition of characters that purport to distinguish it (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, 1999: Articles 13.1 and 13.2). The requirement of availability for the tribal name Orthopodomyiini was first met by Belkin et al., 1970.]
Subfamily Culicinae. Orthopodomyiini includes 36 species in genus Orthopodomyia.
The adults of tribe Orthopodomyiini are very similar in habitus. The species and species groups differ principally in the ornamentation of the thorax and wings. The ornamentation of the proboscis, maxillary palpus, legs and abdomen is extremely variable. The male genitalia are also very similar. The larvae and pupae are extremely similar and distinguishing characters are restricted, for the most part, to the length and number of setal branches. The siphon of the larvae lacks a pecten, the comb is uniquely developed and segments VII and VIII have large dorsal plates. The pupae resemble those of Aedini that lack a tracheoid area on the trumpet. See Culicinae.
See Harbach & Kitching (1998). The phylogenetic relationships of the tribe are uncertain.
Very little is known about the biology of the species of tribe Orthopodomyiini. Larvae are filter feeders that principally inhabit tree holes. Adults inhabit forests and appear to be active only after dark. Adult females appear to feed principally on birds. See Orthopodomyia.
Only two species in the Oriental Region, Or. albipes and Or. andamanensis, are known to feed on humans, but neither is known to vector pathogens of human disease.
Orthopodomyiini has a worldwide distribution, but the species are largely restricted to tropical and warm temperate areas.
Zavortink, 1968 (world, systematics, bionomics, distribution). See genus Orthopodomyia.
Orthopodomyia (see).
