Research on the mosquitoes of Angola - Systematic Catalog of ...

RIBEIRO, H. & RAMOS, [-I. Cunha -- <strong>Research</strong> on the mosquitoes of Angola X
7.5.3- Cutex (Culex) argenteopunctatus kingi (Theobald, 1913)
C. argenteopunctatus kingi was firstly recorded from Angola (Capule,
near Sambo) by Colago (9) and later, by Gttndara (10) (11), from Cuando
and Cuchi.
MATERIAL EXAMINED. CARIANGO, 4 9, 1 3 plus 5 larvae, 14.X.1969;
CEILUNGA, 1 3, 9 larvae, 10-11.IX.1969; EBANGA, 2 9, 2 3, 18-19.IX.1970;
HUAMBO, 3 9, 3 3, 7 larvae, I.VI.1966, 21.IV-13.V.1970 and 12.V.1971; LUCE
RIVER, 3 larvae, 18.VI.1970; MOXICO, 1 larva, 16.IV.1970; NANGURA, 1 larva,
9.XII. 1965; RIO GANGO, 1 larva, 21.X.1969, all new locality records. Also
CUANDO, 5 larvae, 12.V. 1971.
TAX'ONOMIC NOTES. Our adult specimens of kingi agree quite well
with known descriptions. Larvae are also highly characteristic. In Angolan
material, the comb of seg. VIII has more numerous teeth (about
30, from 20 to 35) than in Uganda larvae as described by Hopkins (24).
Other particulars of our larvae to be mentioned are: preclipeals long and
thin, delicate; head setae d minute and single, almost in line with bases
of setae B; upper caudal seta occasionally single or trifid, though usually
bifid; anal papillae long and narrow, dorsal pair about four times length
of saddle, ventral pair slightly less.
DISTRIBUTION. Map 11 shows the known distribution in Angola of
C. argenteopunctatus kingi, mainly a mosquito of the Montane and
Rhodesian Highland Zones (Map 3).
BIOECOLOGICAL NOTES. All adult specimens examined were
reared from larvae.
C. argenteopunctatus kingi seems to be exclusively a ground water
breeder, as no artificial containers or plant supports were recorded for
breeding of this mosquito. 11 larval biotopes of kingi were examined:
margins of rivers and streams (4), pools at river edges and irrigation
drains (3, each) and a rain water ground pool, all of them only scarcely
shaded by grasses. Abundant filamentous green algae were present in
four of the breeding places though, as usual, the digestive tract of larvae
was full of Diatomeae.
Genera Anopheles and Culex, with 8 species each, were the only
significantly associated mosquito genera in kingi larval biotopes. The
72 Estud., Ens. e Doc.- 134