Mosquito Systematics Vol. 13(2 ) 1981 153

Redescr ip t ion of CuZex (MeZanoconion) portesi S6nevet & Abonnenc, 1941, wi th no te s o synonymy

(Diptera : Cbl ic idae) ?l

S. Sir ivanakarn2 and N. DQga l l i e r 3

ABSTRACII. Based on a n a n a l y s i s of t h e o r i g i n a l and subsequent d e s c r i p t i o n s of CuZex (MeZanoconion) portesi Sthevet & Abonnenc, 1941 and Cx. (Me$.) cayennensis Floch & Abonnenc, 1945, study of topotypic material and re- examination of male paratypes of caymnensis, t h e fo l lowing a c t i o n s are t aken t o s t a b i l i z e t h e nomenclature: (1) synonymy of cayennensis with portesi, and (2) desc r ip t ion of a l l known s t ages of portesi . The taxonomic r e fe rences , inc luding c u r r e n t synonymy are given. The male g e n i t a l i a and h i t h e r t o unknown pupa and l a r v a from Cayenne ( type - loca l i t y ) , French Guiana, are i l l u s t r a t e d . L i t e r a t u r e on bionomics and medical importance i s summarized.

RBSUMB. L'analyse des d e s c r i p t i o n s d'une p a r t , 1 'Qtude de specimens topotypiques e t de paratypes d " a u t r e p a r t , permettent de confirmer l a synonymie de Cx. (MeZ.) eayennensis e t Cx. (MeZ.1 portesi. Les s t a d e s preimaginaux de Cx. portesi s o n t d e c r i t s e t les a f f i n i t b s de cet te esp&ce avec CX. vomerifer son t d i scu tdes . Une ana lyse b ib l iographique r4sume les connaissances s u r l a biobcologie e t l ' importance medicale de cet te esp&ce.

INTRODUCTION

Cul ex (MeZanoconion) portesi Sthevet Li Abonnenc, 1941 was o r i g i n a l l y descr ibed from French Guiana and was subsequent ly repor ted from Trinidad and Belbm, Braz i l (Aitken & Galindo, 1966) and Surinam (Panday, 1975a,b). In Trinidad, Aitken & Galindo noted t h a t i t w a s a common, dominant spec ie s i n Bush Eush f o r e s t , an i s l a n d i n t h e Nariva swamp on t h e east coas t and t h a t i t w a s a major vec to r of a rbovi ruses . In French Guiana, i t s involvement i n a rbovi rus cyc le s is a l s o w e l l e s t a b l i s h e d (Ddgal l ie r et al., 1978, 1979).

In s p i t e of i t s medical importance, t h e taxonomy of portesi has been ve ry inadequately known, and i t s nomenclature is c u r r e n t l y i n a s ta te of g r e a t ~

confusion. The h i s t o r y of t hese nomenclatural changes can be summarized as fo l lows :

1941: d e s c r i p t i o n of portesi by S h e v e t & Abonnenc ( a d u l t male)

1945: d e s c r i p t i o n of Cx. (Mez.) cayennmsis by Floch & Abonnenc ( a d u l t male)

'This work w a s supported by Research Contract No. DAMD-17-74-C-4086 from t h e U. S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Off ice of t h e Surgeon General, For t Det r ick , Freder ick , MD 21701 and i n p a r t by t h e Pas teur Institute-O.R.S.T.O.M.'s r e sea rch program on arbovi ruses epidemiology and

'Medical Entomology P ro jec t , Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n , Washington, DC 20560,

30.R.S.T.0.M. , B.P. 893, Bangui, Republique Centrafr icaine

e c t o r bioecology i n French Guiana.

U.S.A. 1- . B e

154

1947: Floch & Abonnenc synonymized Cx. caymanensis wi th Cxe portesi

1953: Lane synonymized portesi (and caymanensis) w i t h Cx. (MeZ.) vomerifer Komp, 1932

1965: Floch & K r a m e r r e su r rec t ed portesi and cayennensis from synonymy, provided notes on t h e d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e male g e n i t a l i a of t h e 3 spec ie s , and made u n j u s t i f i e d r e s t r i c t i o n s of t h e t y p e - l o c a l i t i e s of t h e two nominal taxa:

f o r caymanensis whereas i n t h e o r i g i n a l d e s c r i p t i o n s , t h e r e were no s p e c i f i e d t y p e - l o c a l i t i e s whatever f o r t h e holotypes except "Cayenne" f o r cayennensis

, "Ile de Cayenne ( Cabassou, Montagne Tigre)" f o r portesi and "La C o m t e (Bief)"

1966: Aitken & Galindo examined 4 male paratypes and topotypic material of cayennensis, gave arguments t o s e p a r a t e portes; from uomer$fer and t o confirm the previous synonymy of cayennms?k with portes; by Floch & Abonnenc (1947).

Contrary t o t h e last s ta tement by Aitken & Galindo, both names: portesi and cayennensis have subsequently been l i s t e d as two s e p a r a t e taxa (Fauran &

. P a j o t , 1974; Knight 1978), fo l lowing Floch & Kramer's paper.

In a recent s tudy by the s e n i o r au thor of numerous a d u l t s c o l l e c t e d from s e v e r a l l o c a l i t i e s i n French Guiana by J. Qastrier (see Heinemann & Eelkin, 1978) and reared specimens r e c e n t l y c o l l e c t e d from t h e same t e r r i t o r y by t h e j u n i o r au thor , it has become evident t h a t only a s i n g l e s p e c i e s i s represented i n a l l of t h e portesi-cayennmsis material from French Guiana. In a d d i t i o n , s tudy of a male paratype (no. 285) a t t h e USNM (see Aitken & Galindo, op. c i t . :199, foo tno te ) and of another male specimen (see t h e r e a f t e r ) a l s o c i t e d a f t e r t he o r i g i n a l d e s c r i p t i o n of caymanensis, enabled u s t o confirm t h a t it is conspec i f i c wi th t h e rest of t h e portesi-eaymnmasis material.

The male holotypes of portesi and caymnensis were apparent ly l o s t o r destroyed (Aitken & Galindo, op. c i t .; Eelkin, 1968:53; D r . Tabet-Derraz, Pas t eu r I n s t i t u t e of Algier , pers. comm.; Dr. Rhodain, Pas teur I n s t i t u t e of P a r i s , pers. conan.) but t h e f i g u r e s i n t h e o r i g i n a l d e s c r i p t i o n of Sthevet and Abonnenc (1941) are v a l i d and except f o r s p e c i f i c d e t a i l s , are app l i cab le t o t h e determinat ion of t he i d e n t i t y of t h i s spec ies . The male g e n i t a l i a of t h e paratypes of cayennms%s and t h e d e s c r i p t i o n and f i g u r e of t h i s spec ie s by Floch & Abonnenc (1945) ag ree i n a l l a s p e c t s wi th S h e v e t & Abonnenc's d e s c r i p t i o n and f i g u r e s of portes;. We found no d i f f e r e n c e s whatever between t h e two nominal t axa as noted by Floch & K r a m e r (1965).

On t h i s b a s i s , we are convinced t h a t both taxa are conspec i f i c and we h e r e synonymize cayennmsis wi th portesi

Culex (MeZanoconion) portes; S h e v e t & Abonnenc (Figs . 1-2)

Culex (MeZanoconion). portesi S h e v e t and Abonnenc, 1941 :41-4.- TYPE. Holotype: male (61, 227 Ab2) with g e n i t a l i a on s l i d e , exact l o c a l i t y not s p e c i f i e d , FRENCH GUIANA (LPFM, considered t o be non-existent by Eelkin 1968 :53).

Mosqui t o Systemat ics Vo l . 13(2) 1981 155

d

Culex (Melanoconion) portesi : Floch & Abonnenc (1947 :6) ; Rozeboom and Komp (1950:95); Fauran (1961); Floch & K r a m e r (1965:3-4); Aitken & Galindo (1966:202); Galindo (1969:87); Fauran and Pa jo t (1974:106); Panda{ (1975a :145; 1975b :299); Xavier & Mattos (1975 :248); Matt ingly (1976 :244); Knight and Stone (1977:263); Knight (1978:57); D6gal l ie r & Claustre (1980:141).

Culex sp. no. 9: Aitken (1960); Aitken e t al. (1963 in Aitken & Galindo, 1966).

Culex (Tinolestes) mjuensis : B e l 6 m Virus Laboratory Reports (1954 t o 1962, in Woodall, 1967)

Culex B9: Bel6m Virus Laboratory Reports ( s i n c e 1962, in Woodall, 1967).

Culex (Melanoconion) cayennensis Floch & Abonnenc, 1945:4. Type l o c a l i t y : Cayenne (Guyane Francaise) . Type material: HOLOTYPE: a male (No. 286) wi th g e n i t a l i a mounted on same s l i d e , Cayenne, 17 Janv ie r 1940 (in PIP, a f t r Belkin, 1968: 14; la ter repor ted t o be l o s t by Harr ison, 1973:279 ). PARATYPES: (1) a male wi th g e n i t a l i a (No. 285) i n USNM, (2) a male (only t h e sl ide-mounted g e n i t a l i a ) l a b e l l e d "Bief (Comt6) 26-3-41 ( a d u l t e d i sparu)" deposi ted i n MNHN, Par i s . NEW SYNONYM.

5

Culex (Melanoconion) cayennmsis : Floch & K r a m e r (1965 6 :4-5); Belkin (1968:14); Harr ison (1973:279); Fauran & Pajo t (1974:103); Knight (1978:56).

Culex (Melanoconion) vomarifer : Lane (1953:430); Stone, Knight & Starcke (1959 :276); Eelkin, Schick & Heinemann (1965 :25).

FEMALE. Wing: 2.52 mm. Proboscis : 1.6 mm. Forefemur: 1.2 mm. Abdomen: 1.7 mm. In genera l , small, brownish t o b l ack i sh spec ie s without d i s t i n c t i v e ornamentation on palpus , probosc is , thorax, l egs and wing. Head. Decumbent i n broad c e n t r a l area of ve r t ex narrow, crescent-shaped, dark a n t e r i o r l y , p a l e yel lowish p o s t e r i o r l y ; broad scales p a l e gray, r e s t r i c t e d t o s i d e s of eyes; erect scales s l ende r , e n t i r e l y blackish. Palpus and proboscis dark sca l ed ; palpus about 0.16 of proboscis length. Antenna s l i g h t l y longer than probosc is , weakly plumose. Cibarhl Armzture. Ciba r i a l t e e t h 16,17; median 8-10 t e e t h f l a t t e n e d , columnar wi th hollow o r t r anspa ren t area on a x i s a t bases; l a t e ra l t e e t h narrower, with o r without hollow area a t bases; a p i c a l margin of t e e t h t r u n c a t e wi th 1,2 d i s t i n c t o r i n d i s t i n c t la teral sp i cu le s ; c i b a r i a l dome broad, ova l , s t r o n g l y imbr ica te wi th numerous coa r se den t i c l e s . Thorax. Mesonotal integument dark brown; scales narrow, e n t i r e l y dark brown t o nea r ly black on a l l p a r t s of d i s c , inc luding p r e s c u t e l l a r space and s c u t e l l a r lobes. Pronotum same co lo r as mesontoum; apn with a row of

4desc r ip t ion of egg. 5 the jun io r au thor f a i l e d t o f i n d t h i s holotype i n t h e c o l l e c t i o n s of PIP, Facul ty of Medicine ( P a r i s ) , ORSTOM (Bondy), MNHN ( P a r i s ) and i n Mr. +bonnenc's own c o l l e c t i o n (pers. com.) . not 1966 as c i t e d by Knight (1978:56,80).

' , t

156

about 10 setae on a n t e r i o r l a t e ra l su r face ; ppn with o r without a few narrow, dark scales on uppermost su r face , p o s t e r i o r p a r t wi th 4 b r i s t l e s and v a r i a b l e number of s h o r t , weak b r i s t l e s cephalad. Pleuron pa le beige o r yellow, c o n t r a s t i n g sharp ly with mesonotum and pronotum, no p a t t e r n of dark spo t s on stp and mep; ppZ with 1 s t rong , dark and 2,3 weak setae; upper corner of stp with a row of 5 ,6 s t r o n g and 1 ,2 weak seta , widely spaced, continuous wi th a row of 2 s t rong , dark and 8-10 weak setae on p o s t e r i o r lower border , l a t t e r a l s o with a s m a l l patch of l oose ly packed, pa l e scales; 1 lower mep b r i s t l e present . Legs. Coxal integument pa le ; femora, t i b i a e and tarsi dark sca l ed o r without any conspicuous ornamentation. Scales on a l l ve ins e n t i r e l y dark and moderately dense; plume scales on R2, R3 abd R4+5 broad, ovate. Abdomen. A l l t e r g i t e s e n t i r e l y dark on d o r s a l su r f ace , la teral su r face w i t h d i s t i n c t b a s o l a t e r a l p a l e spots ; s t e r n i t e s wi th d i s t i n c t b a s a l p a l e bands on p o s t e r i o r segements.

Wing.

MALE. I n gene ra l resembles female except f o r t h e following. Heud. Palpus long, s l e n d e r , exceeding proboscis by about t h e f u l l l eng th of segment 5; segment 3 wi th 5,6 s t rong apical setae; segments 4,5 weakly t o moderately plumose. Antennal f l age l lum s t rong ly plumose. Abdomen. Terg i t e s I I - V I 1 w i t h d i s t i n c t b a s a l t r a n s v e r s e p a l e bands of v a r i a b l e width.

MALE GENITALIA (Fig. 1 ) . Segment V I I I . Caudal margin of t e r g i t e V I 1 1 shal lowly emarginate and wi th 2,3 rows of several s t r o n g setae. Segment IX. Lobes of I X t e r g i t e rounded o r ovoid, widely separa ted , densely covered wi th 40 o r more, long, s inuous setae. Sidepiece. Shor t , ovoid, about 0.24 mm i n length ; scales absent ; several s t r o n g setae present on l a t e ra l o u t e r su r f ace ; i n n e r t e r g a l su r f ace wi th 2 long setae a t about middle on convex su r face and several minute setae d i s t a d t o level of ' subapica l lobe; tergomesal margin vent rad of subapica l lobe p r a c t i c a l l y bare. SubapicaZ Lobe. Proximal and d i s t a l d i v i s i o n s represented by l a r g e , e longate , columnar processes , p r o j e c t i n g mesad; stem of proximal d i v i s i o n not d iv ided d i s t a l l y , bear ing 1,2 minute setae a t base and 2 s t o u t , proximally angula te and a p i c a l l y hooked rods (a,b) on apex; stem of d i s t a l d i v i s i o n no t divided, bear ing 1 long f i n e seta ( h ) near base, 1 long hooked rod, 1 shor t and 1 long b lades , 2,3 f l a t , a p i c a l l y b lunt fo l i forms and 1 very l a rge , asymmetrical l ea f on apex. Clasper. Simple, about 0.7 of s idep iece l eng th , median p o r t i o n gen t ly curved, d i s t a l po r t ion tapered i n t o a recurved t runca te apex; d o r s a l margin wi th a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c hump toward base and a d i s t i n c t crest of several minute s p i c u l e s on pre-ap ica l po r t ion : seta a (spiniform) d i s t a l l y broad, a p i c a l l y rounded o r t runca te ; se ta b spiniform, se ta c t i n y , r a t h e r inconspicuous. Phdzosome. Lateral p l a t e of aedeagus i n la teral a spec t wi th a broad, a p i c a l l y rounded b a s a l hook, d i s t a l p a r t wi th a long, s t r a i g h t , po in ted , a p i c a l t e r g a l process and a s h o r t e r s t e r n a l process , l a t t e r a p i c a l l y hooked. Proctiger. Apical crown dark, comblike, c o n s i s t i n g of 8,9 f l a t , a p i c a l l y

, b lun t sp i cu le s ; paraproc t and cercal sclerite narrow, cercal setae 3, minute; b a s o l a t e r a l s c l e r o t i z a t i o n broad, t r i a n g u l a r .

PUPA (Fig. 1). Abdomen: 2.3 mm. Paddle: 0.61 mm. Trumpet: 0.35 mm., index 4 . 4 . General o u t l i n e and complete chaetotaxy as f igured . Pigmentation of integument v a r i a b l e from uniformly pa le wh i t i sh , w i th o r without dark areas on cephalothorax and abdomen. CqdzaZothonxc. Seta 1-C u s u a l l y 4 branched (3,4) ; 2-C 4 branched; 3-C u sua l ly t r i p l e (2-4); 5-C 5,6 branched; 6-C usua l ly double (2-3); 7-C double o r t r i p l e ; 8-C u sua l ly 6 branched (4-7) 9-C 4,5 branched. Trumpet. Shor t , funnel-shaped, dark pigmented; pinna widened, i t s

Mosquito Systematics Vol. 13 (2 ) 1981 157 Ø

l eng th , inc luding s l i t about 0.5 of t o t a l length. Metanotwn. Seta 10-C 8-10 branched; l l - C double; 12-C with 1 c h a r a c t e r i s t i c long branch and 1 s h o r t branch. Abdomen. Segment 1-111: seta 4-1, s t rong , 4 branched; 1-11 17-22 branched; seta 1-111 8-12 branched; 3-1-111 double, sometimes s i n g l e ; segments I V - V I I I : 1 - IV 6-12 branched; l-V u sua l ly 8 branched (6-9); 1 -VI 3,4 branched; 1 - V I 1 u sua l ly t r i p l e (3-4); 5 - IV 6-8 branched; 5-V 4-8 branched; 5-VI 3-5 branched; 6-III-VI 3-5 branched; 9-VI1 3,4 branched; 9-VI11 usua l ly 4 branched (3-4), placed a t c a u d o l a t e r a l angle of segment. Broad, p a l e wh i t i sh ; b a s a l b u t t r e s s and midrib d i s t i n c t , l i g h t l y o r s t rong ly in fusca te ; 1,2-P minut e.

Paddle.

LARVA (Fig. 2). Head: 0.72 mm. Siphon: 1.44 mm., index ( l eng th /basa l width) 8. Saddle: 0.25 mm.; s iphon/saddle 5,6. General o u t l i n e and complete chaetotaxy as f igured. Head. Pigmentation va r i ab le ; seta l-C dark, spiniform, v a r i a b l e i n length ; 3-C p resen t , minute; 4-C forked i n t o 4,5 branched; 5-C s t rong , 8-10 branched; 6-C s i n g l e , very long; 7-C 8-11 branched; 10-C usua l ly t r i p l e (2-5); l l - C 6 branched; 12-C 15-22 branched; 13-C 8-12 branched. Mental p l a t e w i th 6,7 l a t e ra l t e e t h on each s i d e of median tooth. Antenna. Shaft e n t i r e l y dark pigmented; s p i c u l e s s t r o n g , numerous; seta l-A

Sp icu la t ion absent o r very poorly developed. Prothorax. Seta 3-P 8-12 branched; 4-P double; 7-P 5-7 branched; 8-P 3,4 branched. Mesothorax:: Seta 1- M minute, s i n g l e ; 2-M 4,5 branched, 3-M usua l ly double (1-3); 4-M usua l ly 4 branched, sometimes t r i p l e ; 8-M 5,6 branched; 9-M 5-7 branched. Metathorax: : l-T minute, s i n g l e ; 2-T long, 4-6 branched; 3-T 5,6 branched; 4-T t r i p l e ; 7-T 8-10 branched; 9-T 8,9 branched; 13-T 6-9 branched. Abdomen. Segments I - V I : seta 1,2-1,11 minute s i n g l e ; 6-1,II t r i p l e ; 7-1 double; 1 - I I I - V I 5,6 branched; 6-III-V 6-8 branched; 6-VI usua l ly 6 branched, sometimes 5 o r 7. Segment V I I : 1 - V I 1 7,8 branched; 4-VI1 3,4 branched; 7-VI1 2-4 branched; 1 0 - V I 1 5,6 branched; 1 3 - V I 1 u sua l ly 6 branched (5-8). Segment V I I I : 1 - V I 1 1 6,7 branched; 2-VI11 4 branched; 3 - V I 1 1 7 ,8 branched; 5 - V I 1 1 1,5 branched. Comb scales numerous, 40-50, scales on a n t e r i o r rows s h o r t , small, those on p o s t e r i o r rows e longate and en larged , a l l wi th a p i c a l f r i n g e of evenly f i n e sp i cu le s . Siphon. Slender , moderately long; pigmentation ye l lowish wi th v a r i a b l e amount of brownish t i nge ; pecten t e e t h 9-12, with lateral barb of numerous f i n e d e n t i c l e s ; s iphonal t u f t s composed of 4,5 prominent subven t ra l p a i r s and 2 weak subequal d o r s o l a t e r a l p a i r s ; subvent ra l p a i r s 4-6 branched, most proximal 4,5 t i m e s as long as s iphonal width a t poin t of a t tachment , next 3 d i s t a l p a i r s gradual ly s h o r t e r ; 1st d o r s o l a t e r a l p a i r s t r i p l e , s i t u a t e d s l i g h t l y beyond middle; 2nd d o r s o l a t e r a l p a i r , s i n g l e , placed c l o s e t o apex; seta 2-S hooked, s p i n i f orm wi th 1 accessory submedian sp ine ; median caudal f i l ament of s p i r a c u l a r appara tus w e l l developed, as long as seta 2-S. Anal Segment. Saddle same co lo r as siphon, p o s t e r i o r caudal margin without s p i n e l i k e sp i cu le s ; seta l-X 5 branched, sometimes 7,8; 2-X 4,5 branched; 4-X wi th 6 p a i r s of branched setae; a n a l g i l l s s l e n d e r , , a s long as saddle .

20-28 branched; 2,3-A dark, b r i s t l e l i k e , s i t u a t e d ap ica l ly . aomx.

DISTRIBUTION. Tr in idad and Tobago, Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana and Brazi l (Bel&, Para) . 1156 specimens examined; 710 F, 379 M, 9 pupae, 58 la rvae ; 16 i n d i v i d u a l r ea r ings (15 l a r v a l , 1 pupal) .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO. Abriva : "Nariva Swamp", Bush Bush Fores t , near sea l e v e l (Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory, TRVL). St. Andrm, near Gaico, "Turure Forest" (F. Powdher, T. H. G. Aitken).

GUYANA. Demerara, n e a r e s t town, Georgetown, Hyde Park (L. E. Rozeboom).

SURINAM. Pam : Zanderi j (P. Bolwerk). Paramribo (D. C. G e i j skes) .

FRENCH GUIANA. I t e de Cayenne : Qyenne, @ m i r e , Montjoly (E. Abonnenc; T. H. G. Aitken, .A. Guerra and R. Martinez); "Forêt de CZbassou", "Forêt du Rorota", Rdmire, Matoury (J. Qastrier); R d g h z : R&gina, Kaw (J. Clastrier). Gal l ion, r o u t e n a t i o n a l e no. 2 (N. D4gal l ier) .

BRAZIL. Para: Belbm, I n s t i t u t o de Pesquisas e Experimentado Agropecuarias do Norte (IPEAN), Reserva de Aura a t APEG Forest (T. H. G. Aitken and A. Toda). Catu f o r e s t (T. H. G. Aitken). Altamira area (J. F. Reiner t ) .

The l i m i t s of t h i s d i s t r i b u t i o n westward i n Guyana and southward i n Braz i l are not w e l l known. However, w e are perhaps dea l ing wi th a spec ie s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of t h e guyanian biogeographical f a u n a l ensemble (Muller, 1972).

TAXONOMIC DISCUSSION. Cx. portesi Sdnevet and Abonnenc is c l o s e l y r e l a t e d t o Cx. vomerifer Komp. The l a t t e r was o r i g i n a l l y descr ibed from Panama and was subsequent ly recorded from French Guiana (Floch and K r a m e r , 1965) and Trinidad (Aitken and Galindo, 1966). On t h e b a s i s of t he male g e n i t a l i a and l a r v a l c h a r a c t e r s , both spec ie s ev iden t ly f a l l i n t o a d i s t i n c t complex o r subgroup of t h e Cutex spissipes group of Galindo (1969). Within t h i s group, t h e i r a f f i n i t y is apparent c l o s e s t t o t he o the r complex which inc ludes pedroi Sir ivanakarn and Eelkin, 1980, spanustasis Dyar, 1921 and crybda Dyar, 1924, as c u r r e n t l y i n t e r p r e t e d (S i r ivanakarn and Eelkin 1980).

The male g e n i t a l i a of portesi and vomerifer are extremely similar i n nea r ly every f e a t u r e except f o r t h e lobes of I X t e r g i t e which are s t r i k i n g l y d i f f e r e n t i n shape and s i z e and i n t h e number and l eng th of t h e setae on t h e s e lobes. These cha rac t e r s are shown he re f o r portesi and were i l l u s t r a t e d f o r vomerifer i n Rozeboom and Komp (1950:113, P1. XV, Fig. 89) and Aitken and Galindo (1966:198-208). In t h e a d u l t s , t h e only c h a r a c t e r s found t o be r e l i a b l e f o r s epa ra t ing t h e two spec ie s are t h e presence of conspicuous dark s p o t s on t h e s te rnopleuron (stp) and mesepimeron (mep) i n vomerifer , whereas t h e s e cha rac t e r s are absent i n portesi. In t h e immature s t a g e s , comparison of t h e pupae and l a r v a e from French Guiana and Trinidad revea led no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e chaetotaxy between t h e two spec ies .

BIONOMICS. C u Z a portesi is a common i n h a b i t a n t of lowland swamp f o r e s t s a t an e l eva t ion ranging from near sea l e v e l t o about 30 meters. Thus, it seems t o be absent from in land primary f o r e s t (Digout te et at., 1979; Degal l ie r & Claus t re , 1980).

I n Trinidad, Surinam, French Guiana and Braz i l , a d u l t females were f r equen t ly c o l l e c t e d i n g r e a t numbers from human b a i t , mammal-baited t r a p s and l i g h t t r a p s (Aitken e t at., 1968; Tikasingh, 1975; De Haas & D e K r u i j f , 1971; D e K r u i j f , 1972; Panday, 1975a; %ri& e t at., 1968; D6ga l l i e r e t at., 1978b; Ddgal l ie r , 1979; Davies e t at., 1971)*' Although it feeds on a g r e a t v a r i e t y of warm-blooded v e r t e b r a t e s it shows a marked preference f o r rodents and marsupials (Davies, 1978; Ddga l l i e r , unpublished).

l r

Mosquito Systemat ics Vo l . 13(2) 1981 159

Females are nocturna l b i t e r s showing peaks of a c t i v i t y j u s t a f t e r sunse t and aga in before dawn (Aitken e t al., 1968; D e K r u i j f , 1970; DQgal l ie r e t a l . 1978a). However, t h e a c t i v i t y cyc le may show much v a r i a t i o n i n r e l a t i o n wi th t h e i n t e n s i t y of moonlight (Davies, 1975a; Dega l l i e r e t al., 1978a).

Cx. portesi. seems t o b i t e a t t h e same rate a t ground level and i n t h e canopy (Aitken e t al., 1968; D e K r u i j f , 1970, 1972; Davies e t al., 1971; BVL, 1969).

Aitken e t al . (1968), Davies (1972, 1975), D e Krui j f (1972), Panday (1974), Dega l l i e r et al . (1978b), BVL (1967) and Davies e t a l . (1971) s t u d i e d t h e seasonal p a t t e r n of abundance of t h i s s p e c i e s and seasonal v a r i a t i o n s of t h e parous rate i n r e l a t i o n wi th the r a i n . CX. portesi shows maximum d e n s i t y and parous rate a t t h e beginning and a t t h e end of t h e r a iny season. These c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , a l l i e d wi th a long gonotrophic cyc le (De K r u i j f , 1970; Davies , 1972; DCgallier, 1979) and an important longevi ty ( i n l abora to ry co lon ie s : Davies & Martinez, 1970; i n the f i e l d : Dega l l i e r , unpublished) make t h i s spec ies a very good vec tor of enzoot ic o r e p i z o o t i c rodent-associated arboviruses .

Larvae "proved extremely e l u s i v e d e s p i t e s p e c i a l e f f o r t s t o f i n d t h e m " (Aitken et al., 1968:258). However some l a r v a e were found i n "the deep shade of tree b u t t r e s s e s , roo t caves, and l e a f y swamp margins i n water wi th pH varying from 4.4 t o 5.9" (Aitken e t al., hc?. cit.). Most of t he larval specimens examined (except 3 i n c o l l e c t i o n of t h e Mosquitoes of Middle America Pro jec t , Belkin & Heinemann, pers. comm.) were obta ined from r e a r i n g egg r a f t s l a i d by wild o r colonized females.

Other b i o l o g i c a l . d a t a t h a t have been publ ished inc lude l abora to ry colony maintenance and l i f e cycle (Takahashi, 1968; Davies & Martinez, 1970), development of ova r i e s fo l lowing a blood meal and egg r e t e n t i o n capac i ty under normal condi t ions (Davies, 1972; D&gal l ie r , 1979), a b i l i t y t o pene t r a t e small a p e r t u r e s and t o t r a v e r s e burrows (Davies, 1975b), and fungal p a r a s i t i z a t i o n (Davies e t al., 1971).

I n conclusion, l a r v a l biotopes and popula t ion r e g u l a t i o n remain very . . poorly known and need more f i e l d s tud ie s .

MEDICAL IMPORTANCE. Numerous grboviruses have been i s o l a t e d from Ccc. portesi i n each p a r t of i ts recorded range (except Guyana). Some of t h e s e a rbovi ruses may be pathogenic t o man o r domestic animals (Table 1).

' . . Some epidemiological a spec t s have been s tud ied by Aitken e t a l . (1969) and D6gal l ie r et al . (1978b, 1979) but more s t u d i e s are needed e s p e c i a l l y concerning the r o l e of Cx. portesi as a r e s e r v o i r during t h e enzoot ic cycle .

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We s i n c e r e l y thank John F. Reiner t , Thomas H. G. Aitken and Ronald A. Ward f o r reviewing and e d i t i n g t h e manuscript , Qrtis Sabrosky (USNM), John N. Belkin (UCLA) and LoYc Matile (MNHM, P a r i s ) f o r t h e i r counsel, and Vichai Malikul f o r prepar ing t h e i l l u s t r a t i o n s . We are g r a t e f u l t o Ol iver S. F l i n t , Jr. f o r h i s sugges t ion i n publ i sh ing t h i s paper.

160

We acknowledge D r . Ilhodain (PIP) f o r a l lowing us t o study the Pas teur I n s t i t u t e ' s c o l l e c t i o n of mosquitoes and D r . Tabet-Derraz (PIA) f o r h i s k ind cooperat ion i n searching f o r type m a t e r i a l i n Algier.

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- Club :3 1-35.

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i, ,.Ki .%

Mosquito Systematics Vol. 1 3 ( 2 ) 1981

VIRUS V.E.E.

Mucambo

Tonate

Cabassou

Caraparu

Murutucu

Oriboca

I t a q u i

Marituba

Restan

& t u

B i m i t i

Guama

Mo ju

Gua jara

Turlock

TABLE 1. Virus i s o l a t i o n s from&. po+tesi

GROUP A

A

A

A

c

c

C

C

c

C

Guama

Guama

Guama

Guama

Capim

Turlock

165

COUNTRY REFEREN CES Tr in idad Jonkers e t al., 1968b [confirmed later t o

be t o n a t e by D r . Digoutte (pers. comm.)]

Trinidad Jonkers e t al., 1968b B r a z i l Shope e t al., 1964 French Guiana S&riC, 1970 Surinam Berge, 1975

Surinam Panday and Digout te , 1979 French Guiana Digout te , 1974

French Guiana Digout te , 1976

Braz i l Causey e t al., 1961 Trinidad Jonkers e t al., 1968b, Aitken e t al., 1969 French Guiana S&r i&, 197Q

Braz i l Causey e t al., 1961 French Guiana S r i&, 1970; Digoutte, 1974

Braz i l Tr in idad French Guiana

Braz i l

Braz i 1

Tr in idad

Braz i l French Guiana Trinidad

Tr in idad Braz i l French Guiana Sur inam

Trinidad French Guiana Tr in idad Surinam

Berge, 1975; Toda and Shope, 1965 Jonkers e t al., 1968b, Aitken e t al., 1969 Sdr i6 , 1970; Digout te , 1976

Shope e t al., 1961

WL, 1967

Jonkers e t al., 1967

Gusey e t al., 1961 Digout te , 1976 Jonkers e t al., 19682,

Spence e t al., 1962 WL, 1967 Digout te , 1976 Berge, 1975

Causey e t al., 1961' Sdri6, 1970; Digout te , 1976 Jonkers et al., 1968b D e Haas and D e Krui j f , 1971

Braz i l Woodall, 1967

Braz i l Woodall, 1967

Braz i l Berge, 1975

Maguari Bunyamvera French Guiana D r . Digoutte, pers. comm.

Cotia Poxvirus French Guiana Berge, 1975

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Culex (Melanoconion) portesi Senevet & Abonnenc I