The subgenus Rusticoit/us of genus Aedes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Europe and Asia

In 1973, Shevchenko & Prudkina described the new subgenus Rusticoidus in genus Aedes Meigen and based the subgenus on structures of the male genitalia and the larval siphon. The following discussion and description is from their paper and is based on a translation from Russian to English by SCITRAN, Santa Barbara, California, USA. My comments are included in square brackets. The authors indicated [page 41] that in subgenus Ochlerotatus, among all species they investigated [see their table], only Ae. refiki should be singled out. It is distinguished from the remaining species of the subgenus by the structure of the sternite and c1aspettes, by the presence (only in it and in other species of the group) oflanceolate scales on the basal verroca [lobe] of the coxite, and by a few other characteristics. In addition, in contrast to other species, there are additional hairs on the siphon of the latvae. Evidently, it is expedient to single outAe. refzki, as well as all the other species of the rusticus group, into a special subgenusRusticoidus Shevchenko & Prodkina. For precisely this reason [their] table presents ten and not eleven species. [On page 46 Shevchenko & Prodkina presented the following characteristics of the male genitalia for subgenus Rusticoidus.] The wing [c1aspette filament] of the claspette is spindle-shaped and has cross-striations. The length of the trunk [claspette stem] of the claspette is 285.6 microns, at the base and apex the trunk is widened, at the apex it is claviform. Sk = 3.1. Three spines are arranged one after another along the basal part of the trunk. Sb = 3.9. The central and lateral-proximal parts of the IXth tergite are wide with a concave anterior margin, the lateral-distal part is narrowed with a weakly widened margin. The depression between the projections is wide and deep, and on the projections there are an average of8 bristles (7-10). St = 0.9. The IXth sternite is elongated and has the shape of a small boat with a convex central part, and it has five bristles. Sc = 4.8. The phallosome is greatly constricted in the middle, the apical part is expanded, and the posterior margin has a projection. The posterior margins of the wall contact each other in the first half. [Their] Figure 2 shows IXth sternite, IXth tergite, phallosome, and claspette ofAe. refiki.