Subgenus Lophopodomyia Antunes, 1937

Type species: 

Anopheles squamifemur Antunes, 1937

Classification: 

Subfamily Anophelinae, genus Anopheles. Subgenus Lophopodomyia includes six formally recognised species. Subgenus abbreviation – Lph.

Characteristics: 

The species of subgenus Lophopodomyia have not been studied in detail. The adults resemble species of subgenus Anopheles, and differ principally in features of the male genitalia. The gonocoxite bears 4 or 5 specialised setae: one basal and two parabasals with an external accessory seta not inserted on tubercles, and usually one internal seta. The dorsal claspette is rudimentary. In larvae, the long setae of the pro- and mesothoracic pleural groups are predominantly simple and seta 1 of the abdominal segments is distinctly palmate. Pupae have fringed paddles bearing a straight seta 1-Pa.  See genus Anopheles.

Phylogenetic relationships: 

Subgenus Lophopodomyia appears to be a monophyletic taxon, but its phylogenetic relationship with subgenus Anopheles, as currently defined, and its subgeneric status are uncertain (Sallum et al., 2000, 2002; Harbach & Kitching, 2005, 2016; Freitas et al., 2015). Lophopodomyia was recovered in a sister relationship with Kerteszia in the study of Foster et al. (2017) based on analyses of mitochondrial protein coding genes. The results of their study stand in stark contrast to the results of earlier morphological and molecular studies that support the sister relationship of Kerteszia and Nyssorhynchus (Sallum et al., 2000, 2002; Collucci & Sallum, 2003; Harbach & Kitching, 2005, 2016).

Bionomics and disease relations: 

Species of Lophopodomyia are forest mosquitoes. Little is known about their bionomics, but females are apparently active during twilight periods and will feed on humans and other animals that enter their realm. The immature stages are found in shaded stream pools that are rich in organic matter.

Species of subgenus Lophopodomyia are not of medical importance to humans.

Distribution: 

Species of subgenus Lophopodomyia are known to occur in areas of Panama and northern South America (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Venezuela).

Principal references: 

Lane, 1953; Cova-Garcia, 1961 (Venezuela); Forattini, 1962; Wilkerson & Strickman, 1990 (keys, Central America and Mexico); Foster et al., 2017 (phylogenetic relationships).

Species: 

gilesi (Neiva, 1908) (in Peryassú, 1908)
gomezdelatorrei Leví-Castillo, 1955
oiketorakras Osorno-Mesa, 1947
pseudotibiamaculatus Galvão & Barretto, 1941
squamifemur Antunes, 1937
vargasi Gabaldon, Cova-Garcia & Lopez, 1941

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith