Subgenus Coetzeemyia Huang, Mathis & Wilkerson, 2010
Aedes fryeri (Theobald, 1912), original combination: Culicelsa fryeri.
Subfamily Culicinae, tribe Aedini, genus Aedes. Subgenus Coetzeemyia is monobasic. Subgenus abbreviation – Coe.
Subgenus Coetzeemyia is diagnosed and distinguished from other generic-level taxa of Aedini that occur in the Afrotropical Region based on features of the adults. ADULTS – Vertex of head with numerous erect forked scales, decumbent scales largely narrow; maxillary palpus of males dark-scaled, slightly shorter than proboscis, with 5 palpomeres, white band at bases of palpomeres 2–5 (incomplete on palpomeres 4 and 5), apex of palpomere 3 somewhat swollen, slightly upturned, palpomeres 4 and 5 straight, slightly downturned, ventrolateral surface of apex of palpomere 3 and all of palpomere 4 with well-developed setae, palpomere 4 slightly swollen; maxillary palpus of females about 0.17 length of proboscis, with pale scales at apex; proboscis speckled with pale scales; acrostichal setae present; scutellum with narrow pale scales on all lobes; paratergite with few broad pale scales; postspiracular setae and scales present, scales broad and pale; lower prealar scales present; subspiracular area without scales; lower mesepimeral setae absent; wing speckled with pale scales, membrane not clouded at crossveins rm and mcu, remigial setae present; femora, tibiae and tarsomeres I speckled with pale scales, hindtarsomeres 1–5 with basal pale bands. MALE GENITALIA – Ninth tergal lobes prominent, strongly developed, with 8 or 9 slender setae on dorsal and ventral surfaces; sternum IX with setae; gonocoxite rather stout, with mesal membrane from base not reaching apex, basal dorsomesal lobe attached basally to mesal surface of gonocoxite; gonostylus with pair of short stout pointed gonostylar claws inserted under apical hood; claspette present, stem slender with short stout setal appendage; aedeagus simple, rather long, slightly broadened in mid-length; paraproct with 2 or 3 blunt apical teeth, cercal setae present. See Aedes.
The taxon-limited cladistic analyses of Huang et al. (2010) only indicate that Coetzeemyia is distinct from but shares features with species of subgenera Levua and Ochlerotatus. The affinities of Coetzeemyia are unknown.
Larvae of Ae. fryeri are found in brackish and saline pools, e.g. coral rock pools, in coastal areas. They are also found in tidal marshes. Adult females are autogenous in the first ovarian cycle and anautogenous thereafter. They bite throughout the day but are more active during the night.
McIntosh et al. (1962) isolated Spondweni virus from a pool of mosquitoes that included females of either Ae. fryeri and/or Ae. (Adm.) fowleri collected at Lumbo, Mozambique.
The only known species of subgenus Coetzeemyia is recorded from the following countries: Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Republic of Seychelles and Tanzania. It is also recorded from Juan de Nova Island and Mayotte in the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean.
Huang et al., 2010 (taxonomy, morphology, phylogenetic relationships); Huang & Rueda, 2014 (in key to adults).
fryeri (Theobald, 1912)
