Anopheles (Myzomyia) lungae Belkin &amp; Schlosser 1944, n. sp.
Creators: name: Belkin, John N.
name: Schlosser, Ralph J.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 1944
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Culicidae
Anopheles
Anopheles lungae

description: Anopheles <b>(Myzomyia) lungae,</b> <i>n</i>. sp. Adult female. <b>-A</b> medium-sized yellowish, speckled anopheline <i>with</i> the apical <i>third</i> of the labium yellow. <i>Length</i> of wing 4 mm. HEAD <b>(</b> Fig. 2 <b>):</b> Conspicuous <i>white</i> frontal tuft; vertical setae white, followed by one or <i>two</i> rows of <i>white</i> narrow hair-like scales; <i>white</i> scales on top of vertex <i>forming</i> a wide spot <i>narrowed</i> in the center; the rest of vertical scales and the occipital scales dark. Antenna <i>with</i> a few minute white scales on torus and dense white scaling on the first flagellar segment. Palpi ornamented as shown in Fig. 2; ornamentation very constant, the light scales yellowish on the last <i>segment</i> and <i>white</i> on the rest. Labium densely covered with yellow scales on apical <i>third</i>, yellow coloration broken by narrow dark ring just <i>proximad</i> of apex. Labella dull yellow. THORAX <b>(</b> Fig. 3 <b>):</b> <i>White</i> scales on anterior promontory <i>rather</i> short and scarce, central scales elongate, lateral broader. A few dark scales below. Rest of mesonotum devoid of scales, <i>except</i> for very narrow whitish scales in front of wing root; vestiture consisting of numerous golden hairs of <i>varying</i> length. Mesonotal integument light brown <i>with</i> gray pollinose longitudinal lines; dark brown <i>eye</i> spots in front of and <i>behind</i> scutal angle; <i>prescutellar</i> space dark brown. Mesonotal bristles light in color. Pleura darker <i>with</i> a broad blackish longitudinal line dorsally. Spiracular bristles absent, propleurals 6, lower sternopleurals 3, upper sternopleural 6 <b>-</b> 8, prealars 4 <b>-</b> 6, subalars 5 <b>-</b> 6, lower mesepimerals absent. <i>WING</i> <b>(</b> Fig. 1 <b>):</b> As in figure; pale areas light yellow, dark spots often more conspicuous <i>than</i> shown in figure, scales rather broad. Median dark spot includes base of vein 2; a dark spot on costa between basal and median dark spots; subcosta and vein 1 without dark spots in this area; small black spots, shown in <i>figure</i>, between median and preapical black spots sometimes absent. LEGS <b>(</b> Fig. 4 <b>):</b> Front femora swollen in basal half, speckled; middle and hind femora and all <i>tibiae</i> with <i>rather</i> evenly spaced pale spots externally. First segment of front tarsus with several light spots and light apex; second, <i>third</i> and fourth segments with basal and apical light bands; fifth <i>segment</i> dark basally, remainder light. First segment of middle tarsus similar to corresponding segment of front tarsus; second, third and fourth segments <i>with</i> basal light bands only; fifth <i>segment</i> all dark. First segment of hind tarsus <i>with</i> numerous light spots and light apex, second segment <i>with</i> light apical band and usually one to three light spots in the center; <i>third</i> segment <i>with</i> light apical band and occasionally a few light scales in center; fourth <i>segment with</i> light apical band; fifth segment all dark. Light scales on legs yellowish. <i>Dark</i> scales on middle tarsus much lighter than on other tarsi. <i>ABDOMEN</i>: Devoid of scales on tergites and sternites; instead, a vestiture of narrow golden hairs similar to those found on mesonotum. Hairs more numerous on posterior segments. Cerci <i>with rather</i> narrow yellow scales. Adult male. <b>-In</b> the main as the female. First flagellar segment <i>with</i> a tuft of long narrow <i>white</i> scales resembling frontal tuft. Palpal ornamentation essentially as in female; segment <i>with</i> 2 yellow scales dorsally in <i>middle</i>; third segment <i>with</i> narrow apical yellow ring and a few yellow scales dorsally in middle; fourth and fifth segments yellow <i>with</i> narrow basal dark rings. Labium all dark except for a few yellow scales at apex, labella dull yellow. Abdomen as in female <i>except</i> for numerous yellow scales on <i>eighth</i> tergite. Side pieces densely covered <i>with</i> yellow scales; black scales present laterally. MALE <i>GENITALIA</i> <b>(</b> Figs. 5 <b>-7):</b> Side pieces broad. Parabasal spines 5, spine 4 separated from l- <b>3.</b> Claspettes <b>(</b> Fig. 6 <b>)</b> <i>with</i> elongate club composed of four fused spines; apical hair almost <i>twice</i> length of club; inner accessory hair as long as club; two small hairs arising near base of apical hair. Phallosome <b>(</b> Fig. 7 <b>)</b> elongate with parallel sides; leaflets 7 <b>-</b> 8, quite broad, the longest about one-fourth length of phallosome, serrations absent <b>(?).</b> <i>Larva</i>. <b>-</b> <i>HEAD</i> <b>(</b> Fig. 8 <b>):</b> <i>Inner</i> clypeals widely spaced, quite heavy, but short; outer clypeals extremely short; posterior clypeals similar to outer clypeals. Frontal hairs <i>with</i> branching as shown in figure. Occipitals and orbitals short, bifurcate. Antenna <i>with</i> fairly conspicuous spines on inner surface; antenna1 hair <i>minute</i> arising one <i>third</i> from base; terminal hair with about five branches arising from base, slightly longer than sabers; basal hair normal; subbasal short, three branched. <i>THORAX</i> <b>(</b> <i>Fig</i>. 9 <b>):</b> <i>Prothoracic</i> hair <b>1</b> <i>with</i> heavy basal tubercle, heavy shaft and radiation branching, approximately half as long <b>as</b> hair 2; hair 2 not quite so <i>long</i> as hair 4, <i>with</i> heavy basal tubercle, heavy shaft, and five to six branches on <i>each</i> side; hair 3 small, simple; hair 5 <i>with</i> very thick shaft, minute lateral branches except near <i>apex</i> where branches are long; hair 6 simple, longer <i>than</i> 5. <i>Prothoracic</i> pleural hairs 9 and 10 <i>long</i> and simple; hair 11 <i>long</i> with three to five branches; hair 12 simple or bifid, about <i>one-third</i> length of long hairs. <i>Mesothoracic</i> pleural hairs 9 and 10 long and simple; hair <b>-11</b> short, <i>with two</i> or three branches, hair 12 minute. Hair 1 on mesothorax with thickened shaft. Hair 1 on metathorax <i>forming</i> a palmate hair <i>with</i> approximately 8 leaflets, leaflets not pigmented. <i>ABDOMEN</i> <b>(</b> Fig. 9 <b>):</b> Palmate hairs <i>very</i> large and heavily pigmented on segments <i>III-VII</i>, somewhat smaller on VII; poorly developed on I; fairly well developed <b>(</b> 12 or more leaflets <b>)</b> but lightly pigmented on II. Leaflets <b>(</b> <i>Fig</i>. 11 <b>)</b> numbering 16 to 26 on segment III and IV, well-pigmented; filaments short, indentations not numerous. Lateral hair on segment III <i>with</i> approximately six branches on each side, arising well away from base; lateral hairs on segments IV and V usually double; lateral hairs on <i>VI with</i> five to six branches. Anterior <i>tergal</i> plates <i>rather</i> small; posterior tergal plates very small, present on segment IV-VII. <i>bIedian</i> plate of scoop well developed. Pecten <b>(</b> Fig. 10 <b>)</b> <i>with</i> 3 <b>-</b> 4 long and 6 <b>-8</b> short spines, the serrations at their bases very fine and inconspicuous; the pecten hair <i>with</i> 4 <b>-5</b> branches. Caudal hooks 6 <b>-8.</b> Anal gills much longer <i>than</i> anal segment. <i>Types</i>. <b>-</b> Holotype &amp;female;, allotype &amp;male;, paratypes 20 &amp;female;, 20 &amp;male; collected resting on tree trunks, <i>Tassafaronga</i> Swamp, Guadalcanal Island, January 28, 1944 <b>(</b> Belkin <b>);</b> paratypes 5 &amp;female;, 4 &amp;male; reared from larvae collected in <i>Wrights</i> Creek, Guadalcanal Island, November 11, 1943 <b>(</b> Belkin <b>);</b> paratypes 10 &amp;female;, 15 &amp;male; collected on tree trunks, Burns Creek, Lunga, Guadalcanal <i>Island</i>, <i>March</i> 10, 1944 <b>(</b> Belkin <b>).</b> Holotype and allotype to be deposited in U. S. National Museum. <i>Identification</i>. <b>-This</b> species can be separated easily from the forms of <i>A</i>. p. <i>punctuZafus</i> in both the male and female <i>by</i> the very large median dark spot on the wing, the yellowish scales on the wings and palpi, the absence of <i>white</i> scales on most of the mesonotum and the presence in their place of yellow hairs. The larvae are easily distinguished by the <i>very</i> short outer clypeals, simple inner clypeals, the very characteristic prothoracic hairs 1 and 2, the palmate hairs, and the pecten. On pleural hairs this species does not quite agree <i>with</i> other members of the group <i>Myxomyia</i> to which it apparently belongs. The combination of characters exhibited by this species is not found in any previously described form. Seventy individual rearings of larvae established the <i>identity</i> of this form. Distribution. <b>-</b> <i>Anopheles</i> Eungae is generally distributed along the northwest coast of Guadalcanal Island. <i>It</i> may be present also on some of the other Solomon Islands. Biology. <b>-The</b> larvae of this species are normally found in the jungle in seepage areas, along the margins of streams, pot holes in stream beds, rock holes, dense jungle swamps, and temporary pools. The species has a decided preference for shade in its breeding places. <i>During</i> the rainy season the larvae are flushed out into the coconut groves on the coastal strip where the species then breeds. The diurnal adult resting places were first discovered by Capt. <i>F</i>. B. Whittington. Adults are usually found resting in partial shade on tree trunks in the jungle. Males, unfed, blooded, and gravid females are all found together. Other resting places have been found under logs, inside crates, boxes, oil drums, foxholes, and nail kegs. As this species becomes very abundant early in the rainy season on the northwest coast of Guadalcanal, preliminary investigations <i>were</i> conducted on its feeding habits and its relation to disease transmission in this area. On several occasions areas <i>with</i> a high adult density of this species <i>were</i> visited at night and <i>biting</i> records made. Males and females <i>were</i> observed leaving their <i>daytime</i> resting places between 6:30 and <b>7:</b> 00 P. <b> <i>M</i>.;</b> after <b>7:</b> 30 none could be found resting. Although the <i>biting</i> records were made among the trees where the anophilines were resting, less than two percent of the total anopheline catch was <i>A</i>. Zungae. In routine night catches for anophelines in the Lunga district of Guadalcanal the percentage of <i>A</i>. Zungne of the total anophelines collected is a little less than two. Blooded females collected in the jungle near troop areas were dissected. Seventy percent of these showed nucleated red blood cells; the blood found in the remain- der was of mammalian origin. Precipitin tests are being made on a small number of blooded females of these species collected by Capt. F. B. Whittington. <i>It</i> appears from these sketchy observations <i>that</i> in the area in question <i>A</i>. <i>Zungae</i> is not strongly androphilic and probably is not of primary importance in disease transmission. Nevertheless, <i>during</i> the rainy season when this species is flushed out by the rains and extends its breeding range into the coastal coconut groves it may become a problem locally. The normal blood supply is believed to be birds and possibly bats. <i>With</i> the great disturbance caused by an influx of humans <b>a</b> change in blood <i>feeding</i> habits may take place. <i>PROVISIONAL</i> <b>KEYS TO ANOPHELINES OF</b> <b>GUADALCANAL ISLAND</b> The following provisional keys are included as it is hoped <i>that they</i> may be of assistance in other parts of the South Pacific Area. Large series of individual rearings connected the larvae <i>with</i> the adults. <i>Females</i> 1. Palpi <i>very short</i>, wing scales all <i>dark</i>......... <i>Bironella</i> <b>(</b> walchi <b>?)</b> Pa <b>&amp;</b> <i>i</i> as long as iabiuh;, <b>&amp;</b> ing scales light and <i>dark</i> <b>.................................</b> 2 2. Mesonotum with a <i>vestiture</i> of golden yellow <i>hairs</i> only, except for white and black scales on <i>anterior</i> promontory; median <i>dark</i> wing spot including subcosta, <i>vein</i> 1, and base of vein <b>2;</b> apical third of proboscis <i>with</i> yellow scales, interrupted by narrow <i>dark</i> ring near apex......,.............. <i>A</i>. lungae Fig. <i>8</i>. - Head. Fig. 9. <b>-</b> Thorax and <i>abdomen</i>. Fig. 10. <b>-</b> Pecten. <i>Fig</i>. <i>11</i>. <b>-</b> Leaflet of palmate hair. <i>Mesonotum</i> with a <i>vestiture</i> of white scales throughout; median <i>dark wing</i> spot not extendingtoveinsland <b>2</b>............... 3 3. <i>Labium</i> all <i>dark</i> except for a few white or <i>yellowish</i> scales at <i>extreme</i> apex... <i>A</i>. p. <i>farauti</i> Labium <i>with</i> a <i>vestiture</i> of <i>white</i> or creamy scales on apical third, interrupted by a narrow <i>ring</i> of <i>dark</i> scales just before apex........................... <i>A</i>. <i>p</i>. punctulatus <i>Males</i> <i>The</i> males of the three forms of Anopheles in <i>this</i> area have <i>the</i> labium all <i>dark with</i> a few light scales on apex; <i>the</i> labella are dull yellow. The males of <i>A</i>. Zungae can be distinguished on mesonotal <i>vestiture</i> and <i>wing</i> spotting which are similar to the female. <i>The</i> males of <i>A</i>. p. <i>punctu-</i> Zatus and <i>A</i>. <i>p</i>. farauti have not as <i>yet</i> been <i>successfully separated</i>. <i>Larvae</i> 1. Inner clypeals close together.Bironella (walchi?) <i>Inner</i> clypeals widely separated............2 <b>2.</b> Outer clypeals extremely short, usually less than one quarter the length of <i>inner</i> clypeals; <i>pecten</i> with <i>two distinct</i> series of spines, spines lo-12 in number; palmate hair on II not pigmented......... <i>A</i>. lungae Outer clypeals at least half as long as <i>inner</i> clypeals; <i>pecten</i> with 14 <b>-</b> 17 subequal spines..................................... 3 3. Clypeal hairs slender, without <i>branches</i>; <i>prothoracic hairs</i> 1 and <b>2</b> with <i>rather slender</i> shafts, hair 5 with long lateral <i>branches</i>; palmate hair on <i>II</i> less developed than on III; Iateral <i>hairs</i> on <i>IV</i> and V with three to four branches......... <i>A</i>. p. punctulatus Clypeal hairs thickened, with a few fine lateral branches; <i>prothoracic</i> hairs 1 and <b>2</b> with thickened shafts, hair 5 <i>with very short lateral</i> branches; palmate hair on <i>II</i> developed as strongly as on <i>III</i>; lateral <i>hairs</i> on IV and V simple or double. <i>A</i>. p. <i>farauti</i> <i>Remarks</i>. <b>-The</b> larvae of <i>A</i>. <i>p</i>. punctulatus from Guadacanal <i>agree</i> in <i>every respect</i> with <i>the</i> chaetotaxy represented for this form in Ross and <i>Roberts Mosquito Atlas</i>, <i>” Part</i> 2, p. 12, 1943. Adults of <i>A</i>. p. <i>punctdatus</i> have never been collected attempting to bite humans on <i>this</i> island
description: Published as part of <i>Belkin, John N. &amp; Schlosser, Ralph J., 1944, A new species of Anopheles from the Solomon Islands., pp. 268-273 in Journal Of The Washington Academy Of Sciences 34</i> on pages 269-273, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3843471