Review of the Mimeticus Subgroup of Culex (Culex) (Diptera: Culicidae), With an Assessment of the Specific Status of Three Nominal Species Described From India

The Mimeticus Subgroup of the subgenus Culex, genus Culex Linnaeus, is reviewed and revised. Mitochondrial COI sequences of species of the subgroup available in GenBank were analysed to verify the identity of voucher specimens. The specific status of three species described from India, Cx. gaugleri Suman, Cx. katezari Karlekar, Andrew & Deshpande, and Cx. kodaikanalensis Suman, Veer & Chandra, was examined and found to be unsupportable. Culex gaugleri and Cx. kodaikanalensis are synonyms of Cx. jacksoni based on the similarity of DNA sequences and dubious evidence of morphological differentiation. Culex katezari is recognized as a nomen dubium because the morphological description and molecular information provided by the authors are insufficient for its identification. A number of specimens registered in GenBank were found to be misidentified. In addition, available data indicate that the Mimeticus Subgroup may include at least three unrecognized species, referred to informally as Cx. mimeticus form B, Cx. mimulus form X, and Cx. mimulus form Y.