Bironella

{{Short description|Genus of mosquitoes}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = | image_caption = | taxon = Bironella | authority = Theobald, 1905 | type_species = ''Bironella gracilis'' | type_species_authority = Theobald, 1905 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = {{center|''See text''}} }}

'''''Bironella''''' is one of the three mosquito genera in the subfamily Anophelinae.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Foote |first=R. H. |date=1963-05-10 |title=The Mosquitoes of the South Pacific (Diptera, Culicidae). vols. 1 and 2. John N. Belkin. University of California Press, Berkeley, 1962. vol. 1, 620 pp.; vol. 2, 412 pp. Illus. $20 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.140.3567.638 |journal=Science |volume=140 |issue=3567 |pages=638 |doi=10.1126/science.140.3567.638 |issn=0036-8075|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Its species are found around New Guinea, from the Maluku Islands east to New Britain and south to northern Australia.<ref name=Teno77/> The other two genera in the subfamily are ''Anopheles'', which has a nearly worldwide distribution, and ''Chagasia'', which is found in the Neotropics.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rozeboom |first=Lloyd E. |date=1954-07-01 |title=The Anopheline Mosquitoes of the Indo-Australian Region |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1954.3.4.tm0030040776a |journal=The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=776 |doi=10.4269/ajtmh.1954.3.4.tm0030040776a |issn=0002-9637|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== Description == Members of the genus ''Bironella'' resemble those of the genus ''Anopheles''. They are described as "delicate insects" varying in colour from light to dark brown. Adults can be separated from ''Anopheles'' by the pattern of veins on their wings. Larvae are distinguished by the organization of hairs (chaetae) on their thorax.<ref name=Harb13>{{Cite web |last1=Harbach |first1=R.E. |date=2013 |title=''Bironella'' Theobald, 1905 |website=Mosquito Taxonomic Inventory |url=https://mosquito-taxonomic-inventory.myspecies.info/simpletaxonomy/term/6055 |access-date=2026-01-17 }}</ref>

== Distribution and habitat == ''Bironella'' is mainly found in the Papuan Subregion of Malesia, centred on New Guinea, although two species are also found in northern Australia. ''Bironella gracilis'' is the most widely distributed species, found from Ceram in the west to New Britain in the east.<ref name=Teno77>{{Cite journal |last=Tenorio |first=Joaquin A. |date=1977-11-30 |title=Revision of the Genus ''Bironella'' (Diptera: Culicidae) |journal=Journal of Medical Entomology |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=317–361 |doi=10.1093/jmedent/14.3.317 |issn=1938-2928 }}</ref> Larvae and pupae are usually found in habitats such as the margins of pools, slow-flowing streams and swamps. Adults have rarely been collected or seen in the wild, but may be captured in Malaise traps in undisturbed forest.<ref name=Harb13/>

== Species == The genus ''Bironella'' comprises eight described species, which may be divided into three subgenera:<ref name=Teno77/> *Subgenus ''Bironella'' Theobald, 1905 **''Bironella gracilis'' Theobald, 1905 **''Bironella simmondsi'' Tenorio, 1977 *Subgenus ''Brugella'' Edwards, 1930 **''Bironella hollandi'' Taylor, 1934 **''Bironella obscura'' Tenorio, 1975 **''Bironella travestita'' (Brug, 1978) *Subgenus ''Neobironella'' Tenorio, 1977 **''Bironella confusa'' Bonne-Wepster, 1951 **''Bironella papuae'' (Swellengrebel & Swellengrebel de Graaf, 1919) **''Bironella derooki'' Soesilo & van Slooten, 1931, syn. ''Bironella soesiloi'' (Strickland & Chowdhury, 1931)

== Phylogenetic relationships == The phylogenetic placement of the genus ''Bironella'' within the subfamily Anophelinae remains unclear {{As of|lc=yes|2026|January}}. Based particularly on morphological evidence, ''Bironella'' appears to be the sister taxon to the genus ''Anopheles'' with ''Chagasia'' forming the outgroup. Other studies suggest that ''Bironella'' falls within the genus ''Anopheles''.<ref name=FostMarqBergConn17>{{Citation |last1=Foster |first1=Peter G. |last2=Marques Porangaba de Oliveira |first2=Tatiane |last3=Bergo |first3=Eduardo S. |last4=Conn |first4=Jan E. |last5=Sant'Ana |first5=Denise Cristina |last6=Sayuri Nagaki |first6=Sandra |last7=Nihei |first7=Silvio |last8=Einicker Lamas |first8=Carlos |last9=González |first9=Christian |last10=Moreira |first10=Caio Cesar |last11=Mureb Sallum |first11=Maria Anice |date=2017 |title=Phylogeny of Anophelinae using mitochondrial protein coding genes |journal=Royal Society Open Science |volume=4 |issue=11 |doi=10.1098/rsos.170758 |article-number=170758 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2017RSOS....470758F |name-list-style=amp |pmc=5717642 }}</ref>

== Disease transmission == The biting habits of adult members of the genus are not well known. Only one species, ''Bironella gracilis'', has been reported to bite humans either in the wild or in laboratory studies. Unlike species of ''Anopheles'', no evidence has been found that any ''Bironella'' species is involved in disease transmission.<ref name=Teno77/>

== See also == * List of mosquito genera * Taxonomy of Anopheles

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Wikispecies-inline|Bironella|''Bironella''}}

Category:Anophelinae Category:Mosquito genera Category:Taxa named by Frederick Vincent Theobald