Which spelling correctly names the Black Saltmarsh Mosquito?

Which spelling correctly names the Black Saltmarsh Mosquito?

• A. Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus
• B. Ochlerotatus taeniorhynkhus
• C. Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchos
• D. Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchusr

Answer: (A)

Understanding how scientific names are formed helps here. The genus Ochlerotatus is masculine, so the species epithet should be in its masculine form ending with -us. The correct epithet taeniorhynchus follows this rule, giving Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus. The other spellings alter the ending (to -khus, -hynchos, or -hynchusr), which do not match the proper Latin form of the species name. The epithet itself comes from taenia (band) and rhynchus (snout), a mnemonic that describes the mosquito’s banded snout.

Understanding how scientific names are formed helps here. The genus Ochlerotatus is masculine, so the species epithet should be in its masculine form ending with -us. The correct epithet taeniorhynchus follows this rule, giving Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus. The other spellings alter the ending (to -khus, -hynchos, or -hynchusr), which do not match the proper Latin form of the species name. The epithet itself comes from taenia (band) and rhynchus (snout), a mnemonic that describes the mosquito’s banded snout.