Culex (Culex) gaugleri, a new species (Diptera: Culicidae) from India

The present study describes Culex (Culex) gaugleri sp. nov. (Diptera: Culicidae) from Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India based on morphological characters and the DNA sequences, after comparing with other closely related species. The presence of banded and spotted wing classified Culex gaugleri sp. nov. in the Mimeticus subgroup of the genus, Culex Linnaeus. The diagnostic characters of C. gaugleri sp. nov. are include the furcation of vein M on the wing without a pale spot and the anterior surface of all tibia without the longitudinal pale stripes. Further, phyletic relationship based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene indicates that C. gaugleri sp. nov. is closer to Culex jacksoni Edwards, 1934 compared to other species of the Mimeticus subgroup, i.e., Culex mimuloides Barraud, 1924, Culex mimeticus Noè, 1899 and Culex tsengi Lien, 1968. Similarly, mitochondrial 16s rRNA phylogeny includes both Cx. mimeticus and Cx. gaugleri in the same clade and separates from other mosquito species. These evidences suggest that Cx. gaugleri sp. nov. is a distinct species. Morphometric data generated on various attributes such as band length in wings are also significant in differentiating from other closely related species. Further studies on other life stages including eggs, larvae and pupae and vector bionomics are suggested.