Landcare Research - Manaaki Whenua

Landcare-Research -Manaaki Whenua

Aedes (Stegomyia) pseudoscutellaris (Theobald, 1910)

New Zealand Status: Not Present

Unlikely to be invasive, and unlikely to survive New Zealand's temperate climate. Known only from Fiji.

Aedes pseudoscutellaris is very similar toAedes polynesiensis and usually can be separated by the number of silvery-white scales on the lateral prescutal line.

Aedes pseudoscutellaris = lateral scutal fossal scale (SFSL) line always more or less developed, with at least 5 silvery scales at scutal angle (ScA).

Aedes polynesiensis = lateral scutal fossal scale (SFSL) line not developed, with at most 2-3 white scales near scutal angle (ScA).

Characteristic Features

Head: proboscis all dark scaled or with some pale scales beneath (Marks 1954). Thorax: median silvery line usually very narrow to moderate, lateral scutal fossal scale line always more or less developed, with at least 5 silvery scales at scutal angle (ScA) (Belkin 1962).