Culex 4648679 225027273 2008-07-11T15:07:19Z Mark-mitchell-aldershot 3401544 {{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&nbsp;[[millimetre|mm]] (0.16-0.4&nbsp;[[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]] [[de:Culex]] [[es:Culex]] [[fr:Culex]] [[it:Culex]] [[he:כולכית]] [[ka:კულექსი]] [[nl:Culex]] [[oc:Culex]] [[pl:Culex]] [[pt:Culex]]