First records of Armigeres malayi and Armigeres milnensis in Timor-Leste.
Larval Armigeres malayi and larval Ar. milnensis were first collected from rainwater-filled broken coconut shells in the district of Manufahi, subdistrict Same, in southwest Timor-Leste in September 2010. In subsequent surveys, Ar. malayi and Ar. milnensis were frequently observed in water-filled coconut shells either as the sole culicid species, or coexisting with each other, or with larval Aedes albopictus or Culex spp. Although there have been a number of published surveys of Culicidae in Timor-Leste, these Armigeres species have not previously been recorded in this country. Little is known about the status of these species as potential vectors of human or animal disease; however, it has been suggested that Ar. milnensis is a potential vector of Dirofilaria immitis and other filariae, so they may merit further study from a human and veterinary health perspective, as well as for their role in local ecosystems, particularly their competitive impact on other mosquito species that oviposit in the same container habitats.
Esther M
EM
Anderson
Jennifer A
JA
Davis
D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D049648:Timor-Leste