Phylogeny and classification of Finlaya and allied taxa (Diptera: Culicidae: Aedini) based on morphological data from all life stages

The phylogenetic relationships and generic assignments of 'Finlaya' and related taxa of uncertain taxonomic position in the classification of Aedini proposed by Reinert et al. (2004) are explored using 232 characters from eggs, fourth-instar larvae, pupae, adults and immature habitat coded for 116 exemplar species. The ingroup comprises 74 species, including 41 currently classified as 'Finlaya', 25 formerly placed in this group and eight related species. The outgroup includes four non-aedine species and 38 aedine species representing all generic-level taxa of the polyphyletic 'Ochlerotatus' and major clades within the polyphyletic 'Aedes' in figure 4 of Reinert et al. (2004). Data are analysed in a total-evidence approach using implied weighting. The analysis produced four most parsimonious cladograms and ambiguity among the four is relatively minor concerning just four parts of the cladograms, two of which are linked. The strict consensus tree corroborates the monophyly of the 13 genera proposed by Reinert et al. (2004) that are included in the analysis. Overall, the results show remarkable congruence with those of Rinert et al. (2004) despite differences in the taxa included and morphological characters examined in the two studies. Seventeen genera, of which 11 are new, are proposed for monophyletic clades based on the strength of character support and application of the principle of equivalent rank. Bruceharrisonius stat. nov., Macleaya stat. nov., Molpemyia stat. nov. and Pseudoskusea stat. nov. are raised from subgeneric rank within 'Ochlerotatus'; Hulecoeteomyia stat. nov. and Phagomyia stat. nov. are resurrected from synonymy with Finlaya; and Collessius gen. nov. (Ochlerotatus macfarlanei Edwards), Dahliana gen. nov. (Culex geniculatus Olivier), Dobrotworskyius gen. nov. (Aedes tubbutiensis Dobrotworsky), Georgecraigius gen. nov. (Culex atropalpus Coquillett), Gilesius gen. nov. (Culex pulchriventer Giles), Himalaius gen. nov. (Finlaya gilli Barraud), Jarnellius gen. nov. (Culex varipalpus Coquillett), Jihlienius gen. nov. (Aedes chungi Lien), Patmarksia gen. nov. (Leucomyia australiensis variety papuensis Taylor), Rampamyia gen. nov. (Culex notoscriptus Skuse) and Vansomerenis gen. nov. (Aedes pulchrithorax Edwards) are introduced for the type species indicated in parentheses, and their allies. Additionally, Horsfallius subgen. nov. (Culex fluviatilis Lutz) and Lewnielsenius subgen. nov. (Aedes muelleri Dyar) are introduced as subgenera of Georgecraigius and Jarnellius, respectively. As is usual with generic-level groups of Aedini, these genera are polythetic taxa that are diagnosed by unique combinations of characters. The analysis also shows that 'Oc. (Protomacleaya)' is a polyphyletic assemblage of species, which is retained as a non-monophyletic taxon until the included species can be classified into monophyletic groups. Journal compilation (c) 2006 The Linnean Society of London.