The Forms of Culex (Culex) bitaeniorhynchus Giles in Southeast Asia
Abstract
Culex (Culex) bitaeniorhynchus Giles is common and very widely distributed in Southeast Asia and other parts of the Oriental region Its breeding sites are restricted to large and more or less permanent ground pools, such as swamps, ponds, bogs and obstructed streams which contain masses of filamentous green algae. Previous reports on the bionomics and medical importance of bitaeniorhyncus are rather conflicting and apparently less extensive than for any other of the common species of Culex (Culex). It was reported to bite and feed on man in Malaya (Williamson and Zain, 19379, New Guinea (Bonne-Wepster, 1956) and Russia (Chagin, 19489, but to feed almost exclusively on birds in Singapore (Colless, 1959) and in Japan (Sasa and Sabin, 1950). These conflicting reports indicate, as suggested by Colless (1959), that bitaeniorhynchus may consist of a number of distinct forms, with diverse feeding habits. The true identity and the taxonomic status of this species has been most elusive, confused and by no means settled, judging from the previous taxonomic treatments. Morphologically, bitaeniorhynchus is so variable that it is difficult to characterize and to analyze taxonomically. It is perhaps the most remarkable member of Culex (Culex), exhibiting striking and discontinuous variations in the color of adults. In certain localities of Southeast Asia, various different color forms have frequently been found in the same population or from the same breeding site, and a number of these color forms can be readily recognized. The present study is an attempt to analyze the variability of bitaeniorhynchus populations in all associated stages from several reared collections. This study was stimulated by the discovery that some of the striking color forms are found only in certain areas, particularly towards the south in the Indomalayan area and appear to be rare or completely absent towards the north in Thailand, Hainan, Hongkong, and up to the northeastern Japan and Korea.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1973
- Accession Number
- ADA511697
Entities
People
- Sunthorn Sirivanakarn
Organizations
- Smithsonian Institution