Australian Journal of Entomology (2013) 52, 356-362

Cassie C Jansen, Stéphane Hemmerter, Andrew F. van den Hurk, Peter I. Whelan and Nigel W. Beebe (2013)
Morphological versus molecular identification of Culex annulirostris Skuse and Culex palpalis Taylor: key members of the Culex sitiens (Diptera: Culicidae) subgroup in Australasia
Australian Journal of Entomology 52 (4), 356-362
Abstract: Members of the Culex sitiens subgroup of mosquitoes are important arbovirus vectors in the Australasian region. However, some species in this group, particularly Cx. annulirostris and Cx. palpalis, are difficult to distinguish based on morphological characters alone. We evaluated the reliability of morphological characters commonly used in taxonomic keys against a PCR-based diagnostic tool that examined the ribosomal ITS1 gene region. Although reliable morphological characters allow identification, molecular identification remains the most accurate means for distinguishing Cx. annulirostris and Cx. palpalis.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Nigel W. Beebe

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Culex annulirostris
	Culex palpalis