Mosquito Taxonomic Inventory

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Abbreviation:

Definition:

A narrow lateral part of the mesonotum just before the wing root; separated from the scutum by the paranotal suture.

Explanation:

Owen's (1977) designation of this structure as the “prescutum” is apparently based on Matsuda's (1970) interpretation of the dipteran mesonotum. Matsuda referred to the longitudinal suture that separates the “prescutum” and scutum of Tipula as the “prescutoscutal suture” (synonymous with prescutal suture of Snodgrass, 1935) and termed the groove that extends mesad from its middle the “parapsidal suture”. Crampton (1942) stated that the prescutal pits (scutal pits of Owen, 1977) “indicate the true position of the prescutal suture”. The “parapsidal suture” is, therefore, the vestige of the true prescutal suture. Following the views of Crampton (1925, 1942) and Snodgrass (1912, 1959), the paratergite is considered as a secondary division of the mesonotum separated from the scutum by a strong suture, named the “paranotal suture”.

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