A Pictorial Key for Culex pipiens Complex (Diptera: Culicidae) In Iran.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to design pictorial key and taxonomic literature of Culex pipiens complex in Iran.


METHODS
Larvae were collected using standard dipping methods in 13 randomly selected areas of Bushehr, Hamedan, Kerman, Khorasan-e-Razavi, Khuzistan, Mazandaran, Tehran, Sistan and Baluchistan and Yazd Provinces from April 2009 to October 2010. The data were analyzed using SPSS Ver. 11.5.


RESULTS
Culex pipiens larvae were identified based on the Seta 1 of the abdominal segments III-IV in north and central parts of Iran. This diagnostic character had some variation among the Cx. quinquefasciatus collected from south of the country. The identification value of intersection of costa, subcosta and bifurcation of R2+3 of female veins, was calculated as 90-100 % for Cx. pipiens. This diagnostic character was varied among the Cx. quinquefasciatus specimens. The male genitalia found as the main characters to distinguish of Cx. quinquefasciatus from Cx. pipiens.


CONCLUSIONS
It is necessary more studies on the behavior and genetic variations of Cx. pipiens complex in Iran.
Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hossein
H
Dehghan
Department of Medical Entomology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Javid
J
Sadraei
Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Seyed Hassan
SH
Moosa-Kazemi
Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Esmail
E
Abolghasemi
Yazd Health Training and Research Center, Yazd, Iran.
Hassan
H
Solimani
Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd Health Center, Yazd, Iran.
Ahmad
A
Jaffari Nodoshan
Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd Health Center, Yazd, Iran.
Mohammad Hassan
MH
Najafi
Culex pipiens complex; Iran; Pictorial key; Taxonomy