Aedes alternans (Westwood, 1835), original combination: Culex alternans.
Subfamily Culicinae, genus Aedes, subgenus Mucidus. The Mucidus Group includes 11 species.
ADULTS - Vertex with both broad and narrow decumbent scales, maxillary palpus of females long, ≥0.80 length of proboscis; scutum with erect twisted scales; scutellum with narrow, broad and erect twisted scales; antepronotum with both broad and narrow scales; postspiracular, hypostigmal and upper prealar scales present; femora and tibiae with long erect scales; mid- and hindfemora with pale-scaled band on either side of central dark-scaled band; both hindungues of males and females with a tooth, larger fore- and midunguis of males with 2 teeth; scales on wing veins large and broad, remigium with dorsal setae, scales of alula very long, wing fringe with patches of dark and pale scales. FEMALE GENITALIA - Apex of tergum VIII abruptly rounded; tergum IX a single uniformly pigmented sclerite, tergum IX index 1.18-2.78; sternum VIII heart-shaped with narrow base, scales absent; basal 0.33 of cercus narrowed proximally. MALE GENITALIA - Posterior margin of tergum IX with 2 broadly rounded and lightly pigmented lobes; basomesal lobe of gonocoxite with 2 flattened setae; stem of claspette without subapical thumb-like lobe; aedeagus widest in middle; distal part of basal piece expanded. LARVAE - Seta 1-C slender, apex attenuate, inserted anteromesal to seta 4-C; setae 6,9,13-T, 6-IV, 3-VI, 10-III-VI and 2-VIII single; seta 1-S inserted distinctly distal to pecten; posterior setae of ventral brush inserted on a boss. PUPAE - Tracheoid area of trumpet short; seta 8-CT short, slightly shorter to slightly longer than seta 9-CT; setae 11-CT, 3-I,II and 1-III single; seta 5-VI about as long as tergum VII; seta 1-Pa usually branched. See subgenus Mucidus.
The phylogenetic studies of Reinert et al. (2008, 2009) based on cladistics analyses of morphological data strongly supports the monophyly of the Mucidus Group and its sister relationship with the Pardomyia Group.
The immature stages of species of the Mucidus Group have been found in swamps or swampy pools, flood pools, marshy pools, stagnant ditches, a stagnant drain and rice paddies. The habitats are generally at least partially shaded and contain some vegetation or plant debris. Larvae of Ae. alternans have been collected from both brackish and freshwater habitats. Aedes laniger, Ae. scatophagoides and Ae. alternans are recorded as feeding on humans.
Species of the Mucidus Group are not of medical and economic importance to humans.
Species of the Mucidus Group are found in Afrotropical, Australasian and Oriental Regions.
Tyson, 1970 (as Group A Mucidus of subgenus Mucidus of Aedes, taxonomy); Reinert, 2006 (as subgenus of genus Mucidus, taxonomy); Reinert et al., 2008, 2009 (as subgenus of genus Mucidus, morphology morphology, phylogeny); Wilkerson et al., 2015 (status as species group).
alternans (Westwood,1835) ferinus Knight, 1947 grahamii (Theobald, 1909) laniger (Wiedemann, 1820) lucianus Muspratt, 1959 mucidus (Karsch, 1887) nigerrimus (Theobald, 1913) quasiferinus Mattingly, 1961 scatophagoides (Theobald, 1901) sudanensis (Theobald, 1908) tonkingi (Gebert, 1948)
