Mosquito Taxonomic Inventory

Images:

Abbreviation:

Mx

Variants:

Pl. maxillae; Adj. maxillary

Definition:

One of the second pair of gnathal appendages. In adult mosquitoes, consisting of a stylet-like lacinia (lying along the ventral side of the hypopharynx in the premental gutter), the maxillary palpus and an internal rod comprised of the stipes and cardo; reduced in males. In mosquito larvae, borne on the transverse margin of the lateralia lateral to the mentum and posterior to each mandible; typically flattened lobe-like appendages (consisting of the variously developed and fused parts of the generalised insect maxilla), which includes the cardo, stipes, lacinia, galea and maxillary palpus. In mosquito pupae, consisting of a long slender part, lacinia, which borders the mandible, and a broad basal part, the maxillary palpus.

Synonyms:

Adults: first maxilla. Larvae: maxillary palpus. Pupae: maxillary sheath, sheath of maxilla.