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

RIBgIRO, H. & RAMOS, H. Cunha -- <strong>Research</strong> on the mosquitoes of Angola X
by C. tigripes, Ae. aegypti, C. p. pipiens, C. decens, C. trifilatus and
C. pruina. 10 out of the 20 breeding sites with the associate tigripes
were ground water, while other 6 consisted of artificial containers
and 4 were rock-pools.
From the above data concerning breeding of C. duttoni, it seems
probable that this mosquito was once mainly a plant breeder and that,
later, as it is usual in such cases, it was able to use rock-pools. From
these, also as usual, artificial containers in peridomestic habitat could
then be invaded, which seem to be now the most favoured kind of
all the larval biotopes of duttoni, at least in Angola. At the same time,
however, it seems that C. duttoni was also able to develope another
trend for breeding in ground water which has also become an important
breeding area for this mosquito. As the relative importance of
these two kinds of breeding areas is reversed in the case of its redoubtable
predator and main associate C. tigripes (see under 7.1.1), it would
be interesting to ascertain the impcrtance of the selection pressure
exerted by this predator on the development of the ability of C. duttoni
for exploring peridomestic habitat.
Fig. 9 illustrates a typical breeding site of C. duttoni.
7.5.9--Culex (CuIex) ethiopicus Edwards, 1912
New record for Angola.
MATERIAL EXAMINED. All the following locality records for C. ethiopicus
are based on the examination of laboratory reared adults: BERO RIVER (N. of
Virei), 7 9, 12 /5 plus 7 larvae, 12.V.1969; CAINDE, 4 9, 2 /5, 16 larvae,
same date; CALAI, 1 9, 2 /5, 4 larvae, 27.IV. 1966 and 24.V.1967; CARACULO.
8 2, 6 /5, 14.V. 1969; CHITADO, 1 /5, 21.II.1970; CUBAL, 4 9, 1 /5, 15.IX.1970;
LAGOA DOS PARALELOS, I 9, 1 /5, 4 larvae, 7.V.1969; LUINGA, 1 /5,
1.X.1969; MACULAMA, 1 ,o, 5 larvae, 21.V.1969; MOnAMEDES, 4 9, 9 /5,
13 larvae, 20.X.1967 and 29.IV. 1969; MUNHINO, 4 9, I /5, 6 larvae, 7.V.1969.
TAXONIOMIC NOTES. In our adult specimens of C. ethiopicus the
pale apical bands on tergites are sometimes widened laterally, while
in some of the specimens tergites vI-VIII are mostly pale. The colour
of these pale markings on tergites varies in the Angolan material from
pure white to yellow. The distinction between adult ethiopicus and
Estud., Ens. e Doc. -- 134 79