Aedes capensis

Aedes capensis is a species of mosquito primarily found in forests in sub-Saharan Africa.

Aedes capensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Culicidae
Genus: Aedes
Subgenus: Albuginosus
Species:
A. capensis
Binomial name
Aedes capensis
Synonyms
  • Aedes (Eccules) capensis Edwards, 1924[1]

Classification

Aedes capensis is one of 9 species in the subgenus Albuginosus, which is only present in Africa.[2]

Distribution

Aedes capensis has been recorded from South Africa, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda.[3]

Biology

The larvae of Ae. capensis are primarily found in tree-holes.[4] They have also been collected from banana axils [5] and rock holes.[6] The eggs have been collected in bamboo pots (ovitraps).[6][7]

Adults are rarely collected in human landing catches.[4][6][8] In human landing catches in Kenya, Ae. capensis were only collected in forest habitats, not in peridomestic or domestic settings.[9]

Medical importance

As it seems Al. capensis do not commonly bite humans, it is unlikely that they are important in transmitting diseases to humans. However, the bloodfeeding habits of this species should be investigated further to see if it plays a role in the maintenance of zoonosis.

References
  1. Edwards, F. W. (1924). "Some mosquitoes from Ovamboland, S. W. Africa, and from the Cape Province". Annals of the South African Museum. 19 (1): 162.
  2. "Reinert JF. 1986. Albuginosus, A new subgenus of Aedes Meigen (Diptera: Culicidae) described from the Afrotropical Region. Mosquito Systematics 18 (3,4): 307-326"
  3. "White GB. 1980. Family Culicidae. In Catalogue of the Diptera of the Afrotropical Region. Ed. Crosskey RW. British Museum (Natural History), London."
  4. "Muspratt J. 1953, Research on common South African Culicini. II. Taxonomy relating to eight species of Aedes. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa. 16(2): 83-93."
  5. "Cordellier R, Geoffroy B. 1974. Contribution a l'etude des culicides de la Republique Centrafricaine. Rythmes d'activites en secteur preforestier. Cah. ORSTOM, ser. Ent. med. et Parasitol. 12(1): 19-48."
  6. "Garnham PCC, Harper JO, Highton RB. 1946. The mosquitos of the Kaimosi forest, Kenya Colony, with special reference to yellow fever. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 36(4): 473-496."
  7. "Kemp A, Jupp PG. 1991. Potential for dengue in South Africa: Mosquito ecology with particular reference to Aedes aegypti. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 7(4): 574-583."
  8. "Haddow AJ. 1960. Studies on the biting habits and medical importance of East african mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. I. Subgenera Aedimorphus, Banksinella, and Dunnius. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 50:759-779.
  9. "Ellis BR, Wesson DM, Sang RC. 2007. Spatiotemporal distribution of diurnal yellow fever vectors (Diptera: Culicidae) at two sylvan interfaces in Kenya, East Africa. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. 7(2): 129-142."
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