Abstract

Comparative morphological characters of feeding mouth brushes and siphon of fourth larval instars of five culicine mosquito species were studied using scanning electron microscope in order to investigate their structural differences. The filament of the lateral palatal brushes (LPB) of Aedes (Ae.) caspius shows a distal rake-like structure with pointed teeth. The filament of LPB of Culex (Cx.) pipiens resembles that of Cx. antennatus and Cx. pusillus in that the teeth of the filament are less pointed than those of Ae. caspius. In Cx. perexiguus, the teeth of LPB are almost absent. The siphon of Ae. caspius bears prominent spines compared to the fleshy siphon of Cx. pipiens, Cx. antennatus, Cx pusillus and Cx. perexiguus. The structures described in this study will be helpful in the identification of the five culicine mosquitoes.

Key words: Mosquito larvae, morphology, feeding brushes, siphon