Description of the adult male, larva and pupa of Topomyia (Topomyia) aureoventer (Diptera: Culicidae) in India Author Natarajan, R. Author Eapen, Alex Author Jambulingam, P. text Zootaxa 2019 2019-04-17 4586 2 376 382 journal article 27112 10.11646/zootaxa.4586.2.10 fea7df51-2039-4c6a-9d10-9c50e3013a0f 1175-5326 2644422 91F68431-F203-4739-9A15-5F998C318646 Topomyia ( Topomyia ) aureoventer (Theobald, 1910) ( Figs 1 , 2 ; Table 1 ) Pseudograhamia aureoventer Theobald, 1910: 27 (female). Type locality: Pallode, 20 miles northeast of Travancore, India . Topomyia aureoventer of Barraud, 1934 : 46 (female). Description. Male ( Fig. 1 A–I). Small, dark brown with silver markings on head and thorax. Head : Vertex, occiput and side of head covered with broad, flat dark brown decumbent scales with blue luster; a large triangular patch of flat silvery scales present on vertex, similar patch on side of head below eye; erect scales absent; 2 interocular and 2 or 3 ocular setae present; clypeus oval in shape, without scales; maxillary palpus covered with pale scales; proboscis slender, elongate and slightly swollen at distal end; ventral side of proboscis with a strong seta at base and a line of yellowish scales on whole length; pedicel of antenna dark with few narrow scales on inner side; flagellum pilose, as long as or slightly shorter than proboscis. Thorax : Scutal integument dark brown with a median line of flat, round, silvery scales; silver line extended up to wing root and slightly broader towards posterior end; prescutellar and supraalar setae well developed; midlobe of scutellum usually with silvery patch of scales less prominent than in female, lateral lobe dark with brown scales with green luster, strong setae present on upper margins of lobes; antepronotum with a patch of silvery scales on dorsum, a row of prominent setae on anterior side; postpronotum covered with flat brown round scales with golden metallic reflection; 3–5 prescutellar setae present; postspiracular setae absent; a large patch of round silvery scales covering post- and subspiracular areas, mesokatepisternum and mesepimeron; several setae present on upper mesepimeron and prealar area. Legs : All coxae covered with silvery scales; dorsal surface of all legs covered with brown scales and ventral surface of femora and tibiae with a pale yellowish line from base to tip; foretarsomere 2 longer than foretarsomere 3, apical tarsomeres not elbowed ( Fig. 1G ). Ungues of all legs small, simple, equal in length. Wing : Brown-scaled, cell R 2 about 2.5–3.0 length of vein R 2+3 ; alula with a row of fine hair-like scales; upper calypter bare; halter with dark brown scales; anal vein ending at or a little beyond base of mediocubital crossvein. Abdomen : Terga I–VII covered with dark brown scales ( Fig. 1H ), a strip of yellowish golden scales on lateral aspects whereas in female terga IV– VI with apicolateral patches that extend mesad ( Fig. 1I ); tergum I with several well-developed setae; sterna II–VII entirely covered with flat, pale golden scales. Genitalia : Tergum IX fairly straight, posterior border with 3–5 moderately flattened spine-like setae on outer sides, the outermost being stronger and longer than the others ( Fig. 1E ). Sternum IX broad and somewhat conical, covered with scales and scattered setae, apical setae stronger than basal setae ( Fig. 1F ). Gonocoxite long and cylindrical; length about 2.5 width at middle, one-third of dorsal surface sclerotized and bearing many long incurved setae, a bunch of fine simple setae present on dorso-subapical area. Dorsal mesal lobe situated near base, outer margin of lobe bearing a tuft of 14–16 long, pigmented, flattened setae, gradually increasing in length from base, longest seta about length of gonocoxite ( Fig. 1D ); dorsal lobe of claspette broad, with a patch of minute setae basally, terminal appendage bifurcate, upper fork narrow, long, incurved and pointed, longer than rod-like lower fork, strongly pigmented, swollen remarkably at apical part; ventral lobe of claspette with a patch of uniform setae with 2 or 3 unequal setae basally ( Fig. 1C ); gonostylus shorter than gonocoxite, bilobed apically, external lobe narrow, incurved, tapering, with 8–10 stout setae, internally with 2 processes, anterior one club-shaped, moderately long, covered with long hair-like setae, followed by a cluster of lanceolate setae, gradually increased in length from base; inner lobe slender, a leaf-like expansion apically with minute setae at tip, posteriorly with flattened, pigmented gonostylar claw, 4 or 5 finger-like processes with long setae on apical margin, a row of stout setae on ventral side of slender part of inner lobe ( Fig. 1A,B ); paraproct long, with sclerotized arm. Pupa ( Fig. 2A,B ). Chaetotaxy as in Table 1 . Integument of cephalothorax and abdomen pale yellow. Cephalothorax : Seta 1-CT double, strong, longer than seta 5-CT ( Fig. 2A ); seta 8-CT with 1 or 2 branches, shorter than seta 9-CT; seta 11-CT single, longer than setae 0,12-CT. Trumpet : Yellowish, with distinct arrangement of spicules, index 2.06–2.73 (mean 2.44). Abdomen : Moderately spiculate, seta 3-I single, strong, longer than setae 6,7-I; seta 1-I with 2–5 primary branches further divided into many secondary branches; setae 1-II usually and 3,6- II always single, almost equal in length; setae 10,11-III with 2 or 3 branches, 11-III sometimes single, seta 10 always longer than seta 11; seta 3-III long, usually single, rarely double; seta 5-IV–VI single, about 1.25 times longer than succeeding segment; setae 9-VII–VIII usually with 14(11–14) and 19(18–20) strong aciculate branches, respectively. Paddle : Yellowish, moderately spiculate, narrowed apically with 6–8 short spicules, index 2.0–2.45 (mean 2.25); margin with saw-like serration. Genital lobe : Large, extending more than two-thirds length of paddle ( Fig. 2B ). Larva ( Fig. 2 C–H). Head : Length shorter than width, integument smooth, pale yellow; dorsomentum with prominent median tooth and 10–12 small regular teeth on either side ( Fig. 2C ); maxilla horn (apical tooth) absent ( Fig. 2D ); mouthparts modified for predation; mandible with dark, large strong apical tooth and 3 moderately stout, dark basal teeth ( Fig. 2E ); setae 3,4,5-C single, seta 5-C long, placed well posterior to seta 4-C; seta 6-C fine, long, with 5–7 branches. Antenna : Distinctly shorter than head, uniform in width, smooth, without spicules; seta 1-A single, placed about 0.75 from base. Thorax : Seta 6-P long, 6–11-branched; seta 7-P long, 7–10-branched; seta 5-M single. Abdomen : Setae 4,5-III–V usually double, long, equal in length; seta 1-V ,VI stellate, prominent and well developed with many branches; seta 6-I ,II usually 4-branched; seta 6-III–V double, rarely 3-branched; seta 6-VI single, rarely double on one side ( Fig. 2G ). Segment VIII : Comb with 32–57 scales in irregular row or patch, uniform in size, each with median apical spine and fine fringes at base. Segment X : Saddle incomplete, few spicules on apical margin; seta 1-X with 2 or 3 branches, distinctly longer than all other setae; seta 2-X double, rarely 4- branched, longer than seta 4-X ; seta 3-X 2–4-branched, longer than seta 4-X which is 4–7-branched. Siphon ( Fig. 2F,H ): Integument pale yellow, smooth, seta 1-S comprised of 6 pairs of tufts arranged in regular row, 3 pairs in anterolateral row (2a-S) with 4 10 branches, 3 pairs in posterolateral row with 3 6 branches, proximal pair twice length of distal pair; seta 2-S single, stout; pecten spines variable in number, usually 6–13 on basal half of siphon, rarely 1 or 2 extend to apex, each pointed and finely fringed on one side at base, rarely on both sides, siphon index 2.21–3.26 (mean 2.69). TABLE 1 . Chaetotaxy of the pupa of Topomyia ( Top. ) aureoventer .

Seta	Cephalothorax Abdominal segments
no.	CT	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII
0	–	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
1	2	2–5(5)*	1,2(1)	1–3(2)	2,3(3)	1–3(3)	1–3(3)	1–3(2)	–
2	2–4(2)	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	–
3	2–4(2)	1	1	1,2(1)	2,3(2)	1–3(2)	1–3(3)	1–3(1)	–
4	3,4(3)	1	2–6(4)	1–3(3)	1–4(2)	2–6(3)	1–3(2)	1,2(1)	1–3(1)
5	2,3(3)	4–8(7)	1	1	1	1	1	1	–
6	1–3(2)	1,2(1)	1	1–3(2)	2–6(3)	1–4(2)	1–3(2)	1–3(2)	–
7	2,3(2)	2–4(3)	2–6(4)	1–4(2)	1–4(1)	2–5(3)	1–3(2)	1–3(2)	–
8	1,2(1)	–	-	1–3(1)	2–4(3)	1–4(2)	2,3(3)	3–5(4)
9	2,3(2)	1	1	1	1	1	1,2(1)	11–14(14)	18–20(19)
10	1–3(1)	–	3	2,3(3)	2–4(3)	2,3(2)	1,2(2)	2,3(2)	–
11	1	2,3(2)	1–3(2)	1,2(2)	1–3(2)	2–4(2)	2,3(2)	–
12	1–3(1)	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
13	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
14	–	–	–	–	–	–	1	1	1

* Primary branches. Specimen data . Two males of Topomyia ( Top .) aureoventer (A34178 and A34157 ) with dissected genitalia (G34178 and G34157, respectively) along with associated larval (Le13237 and Le13242, respectively) and pupal (Pe13237 and Pe13242, respectively) exuviae together on microscope slides, with the following collection data: Pallode, Trivandrum District ( 08.720581N , 77.027911E ; 92 mts), Kerala , India , collected 18.09.2017 as larvae from Colocasia plant axils; two females (A34185, A34202 ) with associated larval (Le13241, Le13243) and pupal (Pe13241, Pe13243) exuviae on same slide, with the following collection data: Perunthenaruvi , Pathanamthitta District ( 09.414555 N , 76.880905 E ; 90.5 mts), Kerala , India , collected 16.09.2017 as larvae from Colocasia plant axils, deposited in the Zoological Survey of India , Chennai, India . Additional specimens examined . Moozhiyar Forest, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala , 2 males , 2Le, 2Pe, 2 male genitalia; 1 male , 1Le, 1 male genitalia; 4 males , 4 male genitalia; 9 females , 7Le, 4Pe; 2P; 10L collected on 17.09.2017 as larvae from Colocasia plant axils. Perunthenaruvi, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala , 1 male , 1 male genitalia collected on 0 3.09. 2017 in Colocasia plant axils and 3 males , 3 male genitalia; 5 females , 2Le, 5Pe; 2P collected on 16.09.2017 ; one female, 1Le, 1Pe collected at Pallode, Trivandrum on 18.09.2017 ; one larva (L13290), collection data same as males; one larva (L13247), Moozhiyar forest, Pathanamthitta District ( 09.317388 N , 77.086356 E ; 756 mts), Kerala , collected from Colocasia plant axils on 17.09.2017 , deposited in the Vector Control Research Centre Mosquito museum, Pondicherry , India . FIGURE 1. Topomyia ( Top. ) aureoventer . A, Portion of male genitalia; B, gonostylus; C, claspette; D, dorsal mesal lobe; E, tergum IX; F, sternum IX lobe; G, adult female, showing foretarsus; H, adult male, dorsal view; I, adult female, dorsal view. Cl, claspette; DML, dorsal mesal lobe; Gc, gonocoxite; Gs, gonostylus; IX-SL, sternum IX lobe; IX-Te, tergum IX. FIGURE 2. Topomyia ( Top. ) aureoventer . A,B, Pupal exuviae: A, cephalothorax B, abdominal segments VI–VIII with genital lobe and paddle. C–H, Larva: C, dorsomentum; D, maxilla; E, mandible; F, siphon; G, abdominal segments III–VI; H, siphon in lateral view. CS, comb scales; Dm, dorsomentum; MPlp, maxillary palpus; MxB, maxillary brush; Pa, paddle; PT, pecten; T, trumpet; 1, 1-S, 1a-S and 2a-S, siphonal setae. Distribution . Pallode, in Trivandram District, Perunthenaruvi, Moozhiyar rain forest in Pathanamthitta District, Western Ghats, Kerala , southern India . Distribution in literature: Coorg in Karnataka (Western Ghats, southern India ); outside India : Malaysia and Nepal . Bionomics . The immature stages of To. aureoventer were collected from leaf axils of Colocasia plants in rain forests. The larvae are predacious, found in association with Malaya jacobsoni (Edwards) . Nothing is known of the adult bionomics.