Ochlerotatus Explained

Ochlerotatus is a genus of mosquito. Until 2000, it was ranked as a subgenus of Aedes, but after Reinert's work, the clade was upgraded to the level of a genus.[1] This change has resulted in the renaming of many subgenus species, and many aedini-related taxa are undergoing taxonomic revisions. Some authors are still using traditional taxonomic names in their publications.

Taxonomy

Ochlerotatus was originally established as a genus in 1891.[2] In 1917, a researcher by the name of Edwards transferred it to the aedine subgenus; however, as of 2000, Ochlerotatus has resumed its role as a genus (a revision made by Reinhert, due to common traits in genitalia).[3] Based on taxonomic characteristics, many species and subgenera of Aedes mosquitoes have been transferred to the Ochlerotatus genus.[3]

After a contentious worldwide debate regarding the effect the taxonomic changes would have on names established over decades of work in scientific, government, and lay communities,[4] [5] [6] many scientists and others affected by the change espoused the continued use of the previously established names.[7] [8] As of 2016, the previously established names are supported by and accepted for publication in many scientific journals.[9]

Species

As of 2022, Ochlerotatus has the following species:[10]

Notes and References

  1. J. F. Reinert, R. E. Harbach & I. A. Kitching . Phylogeny and classification of Aedini (Diptera: Culicidae), based on morphological characters of all life stages . . 142 . 3 . 289–368 . 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00144.x . 2004. free .
  2. Félix Lynch Arribálzaga. 1891. Dipterologia Argentina, Culicidae. Revista del Museo de la Plata, i: 345–377; p. 374.
  3. Reinert JF . New classification for the composite genus Aedes (Diptera: Culicidae: Aedini), elevation of subgenus Ochlerotatus to generic rank, reclassification of the other subgenera, and notes on certain subgenera and species . Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association . 16 . 3 . 175–88 . 2000 . 11081644 .
  4. Web site: José G. B. . Derraik. 2007. Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in New Zealand: reverting to the traditional Aedes nomenclature. The Weta 34: 17-23.
  5. Black WC . Learning to use Ochlerotatus is just the beginning . Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association . 20 . 2 . 215–6 . 2004 . 15264636 .
  6. Reinert . John F. . Harbach . Ralph E. . Kitching . Ian J. . Phylogeny and classification of Aedini (Diptera: Culicidae), based on morphological characters of all life stages . Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society . 142 . 3 . 2004 . 289–368 . 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00144.x . free .
  7. Savage HM, Strickman D . The genus and subgenus categories within Culicidae and placement of Ochlerotatus as a subgenus of Aedes . Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association . 20 . 2 . 208–14 . 2004 . 15264635 .
  8. Liu . Zhong-Jian . Wilkerson . Richard C. . Linton . Yvonne-Marie . Fonseca . Dina M. . Schultz . Ted R. . Price . Dana C. . Strickman . Daniel A. . Making Mosquito Taxonomy Useful: A Stable Classification of Tribe Aedini that Balances Utility with Current Knowledge of Evolutionary Relationships . PLOS ONE . 10 . 7 . e0133602 . 2015 . 26226613 . 4520491 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0133602 . 2015PLoSO..1033602W . free .
  9. Web site: Entomological Society of America. Journal of Medical Entomology Policy on Names of Aedine Mosquito Genera and Subgenera.
  10. Web site: Harbach. Ralph. Valid Species List. Mosquito Taxonomic Inventory. 16 August 2016. nd. selfpublished.