SEM EXAMINATION OF THE EGGS OF 5 BRITISH AEDES SPECIES

Ultrastructure descriptions are given of the eggs of five British Aede s species, namely Aedes (Aedes) cinereus Meigen, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) cantans (Meigen), Aedes (Ochlerotatus) punctor (Kirby), Aedes (Ochlero tatus) detritus (Haliday), and Aedes (Ochlerotatus) rusticus (Rossi). Eggs of the first 4 species are broadly cigar/boat-shaped, with those of Ae. cinereus being characteristically long and narrow, in contrast to the overall shape of Ae, rusticus, which is quite distinct, being i n profile almost subtriangular with rounded corners, and is completely species-diagnostic. In Ae. cantans, Ae. punctor, and Ae. rusticus the re is usually a single large tubercle in each chorionic cell and there is little, if any, difference in the sculpturing of the ventral and d orsal surfaces, whereas in Ae. detritus each cell contains more than 2 0 tubercles, and in Ae. cinereus there are usually 6 tubercles per cel l ventrally, but dorsally there are no tubercles or distinct cells but numerous cone-shaped papillae. All 5 species can be separated from ea ch other by SEM examination of their chorionic patterns.