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

RIBgIRO, H. & RAMOS, H. Cunha -- <strong>Research</strong> on the mosquitoes of Angola -- X
proximal pairs of subventral tufts. For these tufts, in the larvae asso-
ciated with piplens males the mean number of branches per (proximal)
tuft was 2.4 (range 1.5-3.0), individual tufts being either single or
with 2-4 branches. This character consistently separated our pipiens
larvae from those of quinque/asciatus, with only a quite small fraction
of overlap (see also under quinque/asciatus).
DISTRIBUTION. C. p. pipiens is widely distributed all over Central
and Southern Angola (Map 13), while it seems to be at least quite uncommon
in the West African biomes of Northern Angola (Maps 2 and 3).
It is to be noted that pipiens s.s. is also absent from the coast N of
Lobito, the northernmost localities recorded (Dala Tando, Luinga and
Uige) being at altitudes from about 700 to 1,200 meters, in the Scarpment.
Being a rare mosquito in the Lobito area (34), pipiens s.s. becomes
common at Moqfimedes, southwards in the coast, and is apparently
the only member of the complex at Foz do Curterie, the southernmost
coastal locality in Angola (mouth of Cunene River). At these higher
altitudes, pipiens was also relatively common in South-eastern Angola,
being the only member of the complex recorded from Cuangar, Calai
and M'Pupa (altitudes about 1,000 meters), along the Cubango River.
Besides these areas, pipiens s.s. seems to be particularly associated with
the Scarpment south of the parallel 12 (' S (Gungo, Bocoio, Cubal, Cho
da Chela, Alto Catumbela), at altitudes from 900 to 1,250 meters, or
with the Montane biome (Bi, Ebanga, Huambo, Tchivinguiro) from
about 1,700 to 2,000 meters. And it is perhaps significant that at Ebanga
(2,000 meters) piplens s.s. was found to be again the sole member of the
complex present. Summarizing, we can say that pipiens s.s. in Angola
shows a distribution characteristic of a species belonging to the East-South
African Subregion, being commoner in the higher latitudes and/or altitudes,
which is in general accordance with the views expressed by other
Authors, such as Edwards (8) and Mattingly (68). Finally, we must note
that the available distributional data in Angola are clearly in fayour
of the assumption that piplens s.s. is either a native form or, at least,
an early and quite successful introduced one.
BI.OECOLOGICAL NOTES. 52 pipiens s.s. breeding places are thought
to have been recorded by the writers, though 32 of them were only presumptive
as they were based on the examination of larvae and/or of
EstutL, Ens. e Doc.- 134 91