Maorigoeldia argyropus (Walker, 1848), 1960)
New Zealand Status: Endemic
A clearly marked sabethine with full development of the mesonotal setae, it has retained the primitive ancestral condition not found in any other Old World species (Belkin 1968).
Vector and Disease Information
The vector status of Maorigoeldia argyropus is unknown (Holder 1999).
Distribution (see map)
New Zealand
North Auckland, Little Barrier Island, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, Westland Otago (Belkin 1968).
Rest of the World
Not present
Taxonomic Position
Subfamily Culicinae, tribe Sabethini, Maorigoeldia is an endemic genus with argyropus the single endemic and only species.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis is the minimum set of characters and states that will separate this taxon from all others in this set of taxa.
| Diagnostic characters | State |
| Prespiracular setae | Present |
| Erect scales of the head | Occiput only |
| Scale patterns on the scutum | pale scales forming one or more, longitudinal lines |
Characteristic Features
A beautiful large dark mosquito with striking silvery ornamentation with a very light bluish tinge (Belkin 1968).
