Melanoconion Theobald, 1903

ADULTS – Small or medium-sized mosquitoes; antenna as long as proboscis; decumbent scales of vertex varied, narrow, linear or falcate in center to entirely broad; maxillary palpus and proboscis entirely dark-scaled; palpus with 3 or 4 palpomeres in females, palpomere 4 vestigial or absent; palpus of males with 5 palpomeres, usually longer than proboscis, sometimes slightly shorter, palpomeres 4 and 5 usually strongly setose; scales on anterior half of scutum usually entirely dark, infrequently partially pale, producing a distinct pattern; acrostichal setae absent [except Cx. spissipes]; antepronotum with row of setae only, scales absent; scales present on lower posterior surface of mesokatepisternum, present or absent on upper corner and upper median area of mesanepimeron; legs usually dark-scaled, femora sometimes with pale knee spots and/or pale rings at joints of hindtarsomeres; wing scales varied in shape; abdominal terga usually with distinct basolateral pale spots, sometimes with complete basal pale bands, rarely entirely dark-scaled. MALE GENITALIA – Ninth tergal lobes varied in size and form, narrowly to rather widely separated; gonocoxite varied in shape, with scales; subapical lobe subapical in position, divided, proximal and distal divisions strongly developed, widely separated, each with basal columnar stem of varied length, stem of proximal division distally divided or undivided, bearing 2 apical rod-like setae, stem of distal division shorter or as long as stem of proximal division, bearing 1 hooked rod, 2 blade-like setae and 3 or 4 appressed foliform setae and/or 1 or more variously modified setae; gonostylus at least half length of gonocoxite, varied in form; phallosome not columnar, aedeagus usually without upper tergal bridge connecting lateral plates; lateral plate varied in development, with prominent basal hook; paraproct with comb-like crown of 5–12 blunt or pointed blades; cercal setae present or absent. LARVAE – Head broader than long, usually with prominent ocular bulge; antenna as long or slightly shorter than head; seta 1-A usually large, rarely reduced, inserted beyond mid-length of antenna; seta 2-C usually absent, sometimes present; seta 5-C weakly to strongly developed, single or branched; seta 6-C long, always single; seta 3-P much shorter then setae 1,2-P; seta 7-I large, similar to seta 6-I, seta 7-II small, similar to seta 7-III–VI; comb usually comprised of numerous fringed scales in patch, sometimes relatively few rather large spine-like scales in patch or single row; setae 1,2-VIII usually with basal sclerotised plate; siphon tubular, distally tapering, length varied; pecten spines in close-set row, rarely widely spaced, usually with fine barbs of numerous denticles; seta 1-S in 3–8 posterolateral pairs, length varied, usually inserted beyond pecten, sometimes placed within pecten, 2 (sometimes 3 or 4) dorsolateral setae; seta 2-S usually well developed, hooked and usually with recurved tooth; saddle complete, without acus, usually without spines, inconspicuous spicules usually present; ventral brush (seta 4-X) with 5 or 6 pairs of setae on grid. PUPAE – Trumpet with distinct meatal slit extending from pinna, rarely absent; setae 1,5-III–VI usually with several branches; seta 9-VIII placed at or removed cephalad of caudolateral angle of segment; caudal lobe of tergum VIII not overlying lateral part of tergum IX; paddle broad, ovate, outer margin without spicules; seta 1-Pa and seta 2-Pa present. See genus Culex.