Ochlerotatus is a genus of mosquito. Until 2000, it was ranked as a subgenus of Aedes, but after Reinert's work, the clade was upgraded to the level of a genus.[1] This change has resulted in the renaming of many subgenus species, and many aedini-related taxa are undergoing taxonomic revisions. Some authors are still using traditional taxonomic names in their publications.

Ochlerotatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Culicidae
Tribe: Aedini
Genus: Ochlerotatus
Lynch Arribalzaga, 1891

Taxonomy edit

Ochlerotatus was originally established as a genus in 1891.[2] In 1917, a researcher by the name of Edwards transferred it to the aedine subgenus; however, as of 2000, Ochlerotatus has resumed its role as a genus (a revision made by Reinhert, due to common traits in genitalia).[3] Based on taxonomic characteristics, many species and subgenera of Aedes mosquitoes have been transferred to the Ochlerotatus genus.[3]

After a contentious worldwide debate regarding the effect the taxonomic changes would have on names established over decades of work in scientific, government, and lay communities,[4][5][6] many scientists and others affected by the change espoused the continued use of the previously established names.[7][8] As of 2016, the previously established names are supported by and accepted for publication in many scientific journals.[9]

Species edit

As of 2022, Ochlerotatus has the following species:[10]

References edit

  1. ^ J. F. Reinert, R. E. Harbach & I. A. Kitching (2004). "Phylogeny and classification of Aedini (Diptera: Culicidae), based on morphological characters of all life stages". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 142 (3): 289–368. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00144.x.
  2. ^ Félix Lynch Arribálzaga. 1891. Dipterologia Argentina, Culicidae. Revista del Museo de la Plata, i: 345–377; p. 374.
  3. ^ a b Reinert JF (2000). "New classification for the composite genus Aedes (Diptera: Culicidae: Aedini), elevation of subgenus Ochlerotatus to generic rank, reclassification of the other subgenera, and notes on certain subgenera and species". Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 16 (3): 175–88. PMID 11081644.
  4. ^ José G. B., Derraik (2007). "Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in New Zealand: reverting to the traditional Aedes nomenclature. The Weta 34: 17-23" (PDF).
  5. ^ Black WC (2004). "Learning to use Ochlerotatus is just the beginning". Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 20 (2): 215–6. PMID 15264636.
  6. ^ Reinert, John F.; Harbach, Ralph E.; Kitching, Ian J. (2004). "Phylogeny and classification of Aedini (Diptera: Culicidae), based on morphological characters of all life stages". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 142 (3): 289–368. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00144.x.
  7. ^ Savage HM, Strickman D (2004). "The genus and subgenus categories within Culicidae and placement of Ochlerotatus as a subgenus of Aedes". Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 20 (2): 208–14. PMID 15264635.
  8. ^ Liu, Zhong-Jian; Wilkerson, Richard C.; Linton, Yvonne-Marie; Fonseca, Dina M.; Schultz, Ted R.; Price, Dana C.; Strickman, Daniel A. (2015). "Making Mosquito Taxonomy Useful: A Stable Classification of Tribe Aedini that Balances Utility with Current Knowledge of Evolutionary Relationships". PLOS ONE. 10 (7): e0133602. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1033602W. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0133602. PMC 4520491. PMID 26226613.
  9. ^ "Journal of Medical Entomology Policy on Names of Aedine Mosquito Genera and Subgenera". Entomological Society of America. [dead link]
  10. ^ Harbach, Ralph (nd). "Valid Species List" (PDF). Mosquito Taxonomic Inventory. selfpublished. Retrieved 16 August 2016.

External links edit

  Media related to Ochlerotatus at Wikimedia Commons