Aculeatus Group  

Species of the Aculeatus Group are characterised and distinguished from other species of subgenus Ochlerotatus by the following combinations of characters. Characters that diagnose the Aculeatus Group (as subgenus Gilesia) in the phylogenetic analyses of Reinert et al. (2008, 2009), based on features observed in Ae. aculeatus and Ae. mcdonaldi, are indicated by an asterisk (*).

ADULTS – Large mosquitoes; vertex of head with broad (Ae. aculeatus) or narrow falcate scales; maxillary palpus dark-scaled in both sexes, palpus of males longer than proboscis, apex of palpomere 3 and base of palpomere 4 with very long setae; proboscis shorter that forefemur; scutum mainly with *both narrow and broad scales, broader scales laterally, *scales sparse on scutal fossa; anterior and posterior acrostichal setae and anterior and posterior dorsocentral setae present; paratergal scales present; scutellum with narrow scales (with both broad and narrow scales in Ae. aculeatus); *postpronotum with broad scales; pleural scaling extensive, scales mostly broad, present on upper proepisternum, hypostigmal area, subspiracular area, postspiracular area, upper and lower mesokatepisternal areas (*continuous large patch), upper and lower prealar areas and mesepimeron (1 large patch); lower mesepimeral setae present (Ae. mcdonaldi) or absent (Ae. aculeatus and Ae. purpuraceus); wing dark-scaled, upper calypter with numerous marginal setae, *posterior margin without dorsal tertiary fringe scales on proximal 0.50; tarsi dark-scaled (with basal pale bands in Ae. aculeatus); both fore- and both midungues of females toothed, both hindungues simple (both toothed in Ae. aculeatus); fore- and midungues of males unequal, each toothed, larger one of each pair with 2 teeth (larger midunguis toothed and smaller one simple in Ae. aculeatus), one hindunguis simple and one toothed (both toothed in Ae. aculeatus); abdominal terga largely dark-scaled, *laterotergite of segment I without scales, terga II–VII with large lateral pale patches that may reach posterior margin, *terga III–V without complete basal pale bands. FEMALE GENITALIA – Segment VIII completely retracted into preceding segment; *tergum VIII wider than long, *without long setae on proximal 0.40 of lateral margin; *sternum VIII with relatively numerous scales; cercus long, broad; *postgenital lobe with width of distal 0.20 ≥ cercus width at mid-length, *ventral postgenital lobe index 0.47–1.64. MALE GENITALIA – Gonocoxite *without dorsomesal apical lobe, dorsomesal basal lobe beset with numerous fine setae, ventromesal margin with numerous long mesally directed setae extending from near base to apex; gonostylar claw inserted at apex of gonostylus, long, about 0.12 length of gonostylus; *claspette with subapical thumb-like projection on columnar stem, claspette filament broad, crest with a row of spicules (Ae. aculeatus and Ae. mcdonaldi) or spiculate (Ae. purpuraceus). LARVAE – Head and body studded with conspicuous tubercle-like spicules; *labiogula wider than long; *seta 1-C single, thin, attenuate distally; seta 4-C strongly developed, with 4–9 branches, inserted on same level or posterior to seta 6-C; setae 5,6-C single, seta 5-C inserted posterior and slightly mesad of seta 6-C; seta 9-C inserted posterior to seta 8-C; *seta 13-C branched; *seta 8-P multi-branched; *seta 1-M with ≥ 3 branches; *seta 1-VII ≤ 0.42 dorsal length of segment X; comb scales spine-like with small basolateral denticles, borne in *single regular or irregular row; pecten spines evenly spaced; seta 1-S inserted distal to pecten; saddle complete ventrally, with distinct denticles on dorsoposterior margin; ventral brush (seta 4-X) with 2–6 precratal setae, posterior setae borne on grid with lateral and transverse bars. PUPAE – *Seta 11-CT branched; *seta 5-V shorter than mid-length of tergum VI. See subgenus Ochlerotatus.