The Synonymy of Anopheles christophersi, Theo., and A. indefinita, Ludl.
Abstract
For some time an Anopheline found in the eastern tropics has been accumulating names in a most unfortunate way, and as the mosquito has proven to be a very active carrier of malaria, and I myself am partly to blame for this multiplication of names, it seems fit that I should try to untangle the synonymy. When the study of Philippine mosquitos was in its infancy, there was sent in to me an Anopheline which, according to the only authority available at the time,* seemed to be Anopheles funestus, Giles. This Anopheline is common in the Islands and was early seen to be so usually collected in connection with the report of malaria that in 1908t I recorded that it "is taken always when malaria is present or prevalent," and this was so conspicuous that I stated " one specimen in a collection is enough to lead to a suspicion that malaria is present, and even a small number of them is usually accompanied or immediately followed by new cases, the number (of cases) depending largely on the prophylactic control of the station." Nothing occurred to suggest to me that an error had been made in referring this species to A. funestus until the spring of 1912, when in discussing some Philippine mosquitos with Dr. Malcolm Watson, Chief Medical Officer, Estate Hospital Association, Klang, F.M.S., who was in Washington at that time, he called my attention to the fact that the dark species under consideration had a light ventral apical portion on the proboscis, and it seemed possible that it was an undescribed species. I gave Dr. Watson specimens of various Philippine mosquitos which he took to Mr. F. W. Edwards (British Museum) for confirmation of my naming, and at once wrote me that what I had called funestus, Giles, was really christophersi, Theo. In the meantime I had published a description of the dark specimens as Myzomyia flavirostris.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1915
- Accession Number
- ADA592000
Entities
People
- C. S. Ludlow
Organizations
- Army Medical Department