Biological Variation in Anopheles darlingi Root

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Vol. 91; no. 4; pp. 391 - 398
• Main Author: Charlwood, J D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz 01-08-1996; Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
• Subjects: Animals; Anopheles - anatomy & histology; Anopheles - genetics; Anopheles darlingi; Anopheles darlingi - biting - host preference - resting - species complex; Behavior, Animal; biting; Brazil; Culicidae; Genetic Variation; host preference; Insect Bites and Stings; Insect Vectors - anatomy & histology; Insect Vectors - genetics; Malaria - transmission; PARASITOLOGY; Polymorphism, Genetic; resting; South America; species complex; Time Factors; TROPICAL MEDICINE; South America; Brazil; host preference; Anopheles darlingi; species complex; resting; biting
• ISSN: 1678-8060; 0074-0276; 0074-0276; 1678-8060
• DOI: 10.1590/S0074-02761996000400001

Behavioural variation in the South American malaria vector Anopheles
darlingi is described. At the centre of its distribution, in forest
areas close to the city of Manaus, Brazil, it is primarily exophagic
and exophilic. Mosquitoes from this area are chromosomally diverse.
Towards the northern edge of its distribution (in Guyana and Venezuela)
it is more endophagic and less diverse chromosomally. Similarly in the
south (in the state of Minas Gerais) it is less polymorphic. In this
area, however, it is primarily zoophilic and exophagic. Evidence is
presented that female wing size may vary between populations. The
possibility that this widely distributed species may be a complex could
have important implications for future malaria control schemes.