Mosquito Taxonomic Inventory

Images:

Abbreviation:

MPlp

Variants:

Pl. maxillary palpi; Adj. maxillary palpal

Definition:

The teleopodite of the maxilla. In adult mosquitoes, inserted immediately below the clypeus and laterad to the base of the proboscis; varies widely in form according to genus and sex; primitively consisting of five palpomeres. In mosquito and dixid larvae, a laterally located cylindrical or fusiform lobe that is supported by the stipes in dixids and articulated or fused basally with the maxillary body in mosquito larvae; part of the stipes has been incorporated into the maxillary palpus in anophelines and many culicines. In mosquito pupae, arising immediately below the clypeus and folded along the side of the proboscis.

Explanation:

The merostipes appears to have been completely incorporated into the maxillary palpus of anopheline and some culicine larvae, e.g. Toxorhynchites larvae. For simplicity, the entire complex in these cases is called the maxillary palpus.

Synonyms:

Adults: first maxillary palp, maxillar palpus, maxillary palp, mouth feeler, palp, palp of the first maxilla, palpus. Larvae: basal appendage, basal process, maxillary palp, palp, palpostipes, palpus, second segment of palp. Pupae: maxillary palp, palp sheath, palpal case, palpal sheath, palpus, sheath of maxillary palp, sheath of maxillary palpus.