Medical Entomology Project.
Abstract
Studies conducted on the mosquito fauna of Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America over a nine year period were presented in 81 publications which included 15 monographs. These are cited in Appendix 1. Seventy three species and one subgenus were described as new. These monographs and papers have provided complete descriptions or redescriptions for all stages, when known, of approximately 425 species (Appendix 2). Procedures were developed for the Asia, Africa and South and Central America and these were made available to field personnel through training courses and identification keys. Over 179,000 specimens were accessioned into the project (Appendices 3 and 4). Probably the most significant result was that achieved jointly with the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Science (AFRIMS), Bangkok, showing that one of the primary malaria vectors, Anopheles balabacensis, is a complex of at least 10 species in Southeast Asia of which 4 or more are found in Thailand. In the final year of the project, the distinctiveness of the last 4 sibling species of thhe Anopheles balabacensis complex was shown by work at the Medical Entomology Prokect (MEP) and AFRIMS. Work on the African arbovirus vector species of Aedes (Stegomyia) has resulted in considerable clarification of species concepts, their ranges, and significance as vectors, which is finally producing a coherent picture of disease epidemiology. Additional keywords: Culicida, Biosytematics, Aedes, Culex, and Medical research.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA151239
Entities
People
- O. S. Fling Jr
Organizations
- Smithsonian Institution