Stegomyia

Stegomyia
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Culicidae
Genus:	Aedes
Subgenus:	Stegomyia Theobald, 1901
Type species
Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762)

Stegomyia is a large subgenus of the mosquito genus Aedes with 131 species^[1] classified in six species groups (group uncertain for one species), two groups of which are further divided into subgroups.^[2]

The immature stages of species of subgenus Stegomyia are found in natural and artificial containers. Typical habitats are tree holes, but many species inhabit small amounts of water contained in dead and fallen plant parts. A few species utilise rock holes, crab holes and the leaf axils of various plants. Eggs are normally resistant to desiccation and hatch when the habitat is filled with water. Females are typically diurnal and many species (approximately 50) are known to bite humans. They also feed on a variety of domestic and wild animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.^[2]

Subgenus Stegomyia is a medically important group. Ae. aegypti is the classical vector of yellow fever and dengue fever viruses and a proven vector of other viruses. Ae. albopictus is also an important vector of dengue fever virus. Other recognised vectors of yellow fever virus include Ae. africanus and Ae. luteocephalus in areas of central and western Africa and Ae. bromeliae in East Africa. Some species of the Scutellaris Group are efficient vectors of Wuchereria bancrofti in the South Pacific. Various arbo viruses have been isolated from other species of the subgenus.^[2]

Species of subgenus Stegomyia have distributions in the Afrotropical, Australasian and Oriental Regions. Two species, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, have been transported to areas of the Nearctic, Neotropical and Palaearctic Regions by human agency.^[2]

The subgenus Stegomyia contains 128 species^[1]

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