Key to males of Afrotropical Culiciomyia based on maxillary palpomere lengths and maxillary palpal comb scales

This key is based on the relative lengths of the maxillary palpomeres and specialized palpal comb scales. Culex cambournaci, which has no comb scales (the male palpi are very short), and Cx. milloti, which is known from larvae only, are excluded. White lines on the images are 100 µm in length. Additional notes are provided at the end of this key.

1 Palpal comb scales consisting of 2 or more clearly differently shaped scales divided into proximal and distal sets (Fig. 33A).................................................................................................... 2

- Palpal comb scales all similar in shape (lengths of scales may vary) (Fig. 33B)..................................... 6 2(1) A gap separates the proximal and distal sets of palpal comb scales (Fig. 34A)...................................... 3

- No obvious gap between the proximal and distal sets (Fig. 34B)................................................ 4 3(2) Palpal comb with 6–8 proximal and 6–8 distal scales; scales of distal set with long recurved apices (Fig. 35).......................................................................................... lanzaroi, muspratti, nebulosus

- Palpal comb with 11–13 scales; scales of distal set small with very short, fine and straight points................. furlongi 4(2) Scales of distal set of palpal comb scales not narrowed to a point, spatulate in shape (Fig. 36)............... semibrunneus

- Scales of distal set of palpal comb scales with sharp apices that are often recurved.................................. 5 5(4) Most proximal scale of proximal set of palpal comb scales 0.5–0.75 length of most distal scale of proximal set; most distal scale of distal set with apical point not as recurved as other distal scales (Fig. 37A)................................ cinereus

- Most proximal scale of proximal scale set as long or longer than most distal scale of proximal set (Fig. 37B).... apicopilosus 6(1) Palpal comb with 4 spatulate scales; Madagascar only................................................... pandani

- Palpal comb with more than 4 scales...................................................................... 7

7(6) Palpomere 4>0.5 length of palpomere 5 (Fig. 38A).......................................................... 8

- Palpomere 4 <0.5 length of palpomere 5 (Fig. 38B).......................................................... 9 8(7) Distance between palpal comb scales 0.5 length of each scale (Fig. 39A)........................ subaequalis, mongiro ?

- Distance between palpal comb scales 0.25 length of each scale (Fig. 39B)................. pseudosubaequalis, mongiro ? 9(7) Most proximal scales of palpal comb shorter than the other 12–15 scales (Fig. 40A)......................... cinerellus

- All scales of palpal comb about same length; variable in number (Fig. 40B).................................. macfiei