Culex
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2008-07-11T15:07:19Z
Mark-mitchell-aldershot
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{{otheruses}}
{{Taxobox | name = ''Culex''
| image = CulexNil.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''[[Culex quinquefasciatus]]''
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
| subphylum = [[Hexapoda]]
| classis = [[Insect]]a
| subclassis = [[Pterygota]]
| infraclassis = [[Neoptera]]
| superordo = [[Endopterygota]]|
| ordo = [[Fly|Diptera]]
| familia = [[Culicidae]]
| genus = '''''Culex'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758
| diversity_link = List of Culex species
| diversity = 1216 species
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''[[Culex annulirostris|C. annulirostris]]''<br />
''[[Culex antennatus|C. antennatus]]''<br />
''[[Culex jenseni|C. jenseni]]''<br />
''[[Culex pipiens|C. pipiens]]''<br />
''[[Culex pusillus|C. pusillus]]''<br />
''[[Culex quinquefasciatus|C. quinquefasciatus]]''<br />
''[[Culex rajah|C. rajah]]''<br />
''[[Culex restuans|C. restuans]]''<br />
''[[Culex salinarius|C. salinarius]]''<br />
''[[Culex tarsalis|C. tarsalis]]''<br />
''[[Culex territans|C. territans]]''<br />
''[[Culex theileri|C. theileri]]''<br />
''[[Culex tritaeniorhynchus|C. tritaeniorhynchus]]''<br />
''many more''
}}
[[Image:Culex sp larvae.png|thumb|right|200px|''Culex'' mosquito larvae]]
'''''Culex''''' is a [[genus]] of [[mosquito]], and several species act as [[Vector (biology)|vectors]] of important diseases, such as [[West Nile virus]], [[filariasis]], [[Japanese encephalitis]], [[St. Louis encephalitis]] and [[avian malaria]].
The adult mosquito can measure from 4-10 [[millimetre|mm]] (0.16-0.4 [[inch|in]].), and morphologically is mainly composed of a [[head]], [[thorax]], and [[abdomen]]. It also possesses wings, which enable it to fly and act as a very important factor in its disease spreading abilities.
==Life cycle==
The developmental cycle takes 2 weeks and is by complete [[metamorphosis]]. [[Egg (biology)|Eggs]] are laid singly or in batches, according to the species. They hatch in the presence of water. In the [[larva]]l stage the mosquito lives in water and feeds on organic matter and plants, then develops into a [[pupa]]. The pupa is comma shaped. It does not feed and becomes an adult after one or two days.
==Diversity==
{{seealso|List of Culex species}}
There exists a vast variety of ''Culex'' species. In [[Panama]] alone, 88 species were described by 1955.
==Subgenera==
* ''[[Acalleomyia]]''
* ''[[Acallyntrum]]''
* ''[[Aedinus]]''
* ''[[Afroculex]]''
* ''[[Allimanta]]''
* ''[[Anoedioporpa]]''
* ''[[Barraudius]]''
* ''[[Belkinomyia]]''
* ''[[Carrollia]]''
* ''[[Culex (subgenus)|Culex]]''
* ''[[Culiciomyia]]''
* ''[[Eumelanomyia]]''
* ''[[Kitzmilleria]]''
* ''[[Lasiosiphon]]''
* ''[[Lophoceraomyia]]''
* ''[[Maillotia]]''
* ''[[Melanoconion]]''
* ''[[Micraedes]]''
* ''[[Microculex]]''
* ''[[Neoculex]]''
* ''[[Nomina Dubia]]''
* ''[[Oculeomyia]]''
* ''[[Phenacomyia]]''
* ''[[Rejected Names]]''
* ''[[Sirivanakarnius]]''
* ''[[Tinolestes]]''
==References==
* [http://www.mosquitocatalog.org/main.asp MosquitoCatalog]
==Further reading==
* Galindo, P & Blanton, F.S. (1955). An annotated list of the ''Culex'' of Panama (Diptera, Culicidae). ''Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington'' 57(2):68-74. [http://www.mosquitocatalog.org/pdfs/045800-1.PDF PDF] - with links to publications
==External links==
* Systematic Catalog of the Culicidae: [http://www.mosquitocatalog.org/htmlfiles/genus17.htm List of ''Culex'' species]
* [http://cpipiens.vectorbase.org/index.php VectorBase homepage for ''Culex pipiens''] (genome browser, downloads and more)
*[http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/aquatic/fl_sle_mosquito.htm ''Culex'' (''Culex'') ''nigripalpus'' Theobald] on the [[UF]] / [[IFAS]] Featured Creatures Web site
[[Category:Culicidae]]
[[Category:Pest insects]]
[[Category:Flies]]
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