AUSTRALASIAN REGION
Generic abbreviation: Mg.
Type species: Culex argyropus Walker
Etymology: Maori people of New Zealand & Emilio Augusto Goeldi
The Sabethine genus Maorigoeldia is monotypic and represented only by the species Maorigoeldia argyropus (Walker). Adult Mg. argyropus are large and very attractive mosquitoes, with highly distinctive thick bluish-silver stripes across its head and thorax. Maorigoeldia argyropus shows unique primitive morphological characters—including well-developed acrostichal setae—suggesting that this may be a basal lineage within the tribe Sabethini.
DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERS (Click photos to view; mouse over and click large photo to zoom in.)
ADULT (illustrated): Erect head scales restricted to occiput; prespiracular setae present. Thorax: Scutum with strong acrostichal, dorsocentral, prescutellar and supralar setae; scutum with pale bluish and silver scales. Abdomen: Three rounded spermathecae. Wing: Vein 1A terminates beyond base of mediocubital crossvein; wing upper calypter with marginal setae.
LARVA (not illustrated): Head: Occipital foramen circular with distinct collar: seta 3-C ventral; seta 13-P present. Terminal segments: Comb with comb scales in a large patch of ≥100; seta 4-X with a single pair of setae.
TAXONOMIC KEYS
WRBU – Genera – Global – Larva
WRBU – Genera – Australasia – Adult
WRBU – Genera – Australasia – Larva
Exemplar DNA sequences
Mg. argyropus arginine kinase gene: GQ906815
Mg. argyropus CAD gene: GQ906840
Mg. argyropus catalase gene: GQ906864
Mg. argyropus endolase gene: GQ906888
Mg. argyropus hunchback gene: GQ906912
Mg. argyropus white gene: GQ906932
All Maorigoeldia DNA sequences
BIONOMICS
Immatures
Immature Mg. argyropus are found in natural containers—tree holes and rot holes of Nothofagus spp., fallen Rhopalostylis sapida palm fronds, and in water collections in stumps of the silver tree fern, Cyathea dealbata—and in artificial sites including rain barrels, and discarded tins, jars and tires. The large larvae of Mg. argyropus typically rest upside-down on the bottom of the rearing site, returning to the surface infrequently to respire.
Adults
Maorigoeldia argyropus is associated with lowland forests. It appears that Mg. argyropus does not blood feed—it has never been collected in CO2-baited light traps, nor landing or feeding on man. In the laboratory, adult Mg. argyropus generated three egg batches, sustained only by sugar water, suggesting the species has adapted to autogeny. The species is endemic to New Zealand, including the North and South Islands, and on Little Barrier Island. It is wholly restricted to remaining large fragments of near-pristine native lowland forests, suggesting that the survival of this species (and genus) may be under threat.
*Associated pathogens: This list reports bacteria, viruses, and parasites recovered from, or experimentally passed through this species, and does not imply field vector status.
IMPORTANT REFERENCES (full citations below)
Edwards 1930a: 302 (as Rachionotomyia, subgenus Maorigoeldia)
Belkin 1962: 492 (to genus)
Harbach & Peyton 1993 (L mouthparts*; phylogeny)
Judd 1996 (phylogeny)
Harbach & Kitching 1998 (phylogeny)
VALID SUBGENERA
None
CURRENT GENERIC SYNONYMS
syn. Rachionotomyia, subg. Maorigoeldia Edwards 1930a: 302.
CITED REFERENCES
Belkin, J.N. (1962). The mosquitoes of the South Pacific (Diptera, Culicidae) (Vols. 1 &2). Berkeley, California: University of California Press.
Edwards, F.W. (1930a). Mosquito notes. IX. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 21, 287–306.
Harbach, R.E. & Kitching, I.J. (1998). Phylogeny and classification of the Culicidae (Diptera). Systematic Entomology, 23(4), 327–370.
Harbach, R.E., & Peyton, E.L. (1993). Morphology and evolution of the larval maxilla and its importance in the classification of the Sabethini (Diptera: Culicidae). Mosquito Systematics, 25(1), 1–16.
Judd, D.J. (1996). Review of the systematics and phylogenetic relationships of the Sabethini (Diptera: Culicidae). Systematic Entomology, 21(2), 129–150.
CITE THIS PAGE
Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (Year). Maorigoeldia genus page. Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit Website, http://wrbu.si.edu/vectorspecies/genera/maorigoeldia, accessed on [date (e.g. 03 February 2020) when you last viewed the site].
