Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Mosquito identification

Posted by HaleBopp on 21-07-2017 20:54
#1

Hello,

I'm trying to learn about mosquitos. I have recently photographed this female in my house (near Toulouse, south part of France).
But the identification is more difficult than I thought and I did not succeed to find even the genus (Culex ?)

So I come here for some help.

Thank you (and sorry for my poor english)
Alain

www.galerie-insecte.org/galerie/image/dos186/temp/P1270449bjpg.jpg

www.galerie-insecte.org/galerie/image/dos186/temp/P1270467b.jpg

www.galerie-insecte.org/galerie/image/dos186/temp/P1270492b.jpg

Edited by HaleBopp on 21-07-2017 20:58

Posted by Tony Irwin on 21-07-2017 21:35
#2

I would agree that this is a Culex species, but I don't think I can say which one from the photos.

Posted by HaleBopp on 22-07-2017 13:36
#3

Thanks. And what makes you think it's a Culex ?

Posted by Tony Irwin on 22-07-2017 19:12
#4

The palps are short (so not Anopheles). The anal vein is straight (so not Uranotaenia). The abdomen is blunt-ended, with no sign of the cerci (so not Aedes or Ochlerotatus). The wing scales are narrow (so not Coquillettidia). There are no white rings on the tarsi (so not Orthopodomyia, nor most Culiseta). Two species of European Culiseta have unbanded legs, but neither looks like your specimen, and they live in mountains or tundra, so unlikely to occur in Toulouse. We're just left with Culex. :)

Edited by Tony Irwin on 22-07-2017 19:13

Posted by HaleBopp on 22-07-2017 22:28
#5

Thank you for this detailed answer, this is very usefull for me !