Frequency, diversity, and productivity study on the Aedes aegypti most preferred containers in the City of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

The most preferred containers by Aedes aegypti were studied April and July (rainy and dry periods) in two Manaus neighbourhoods. In all, 2,700 premises and 13,912 containers were examined, most (87%) recorded outdoors. Out of the 13,100 inspected premises, only 1.6% showed to be positive for Aedes aegypti, summing up to 7,916 collected samples. Most frequently found containers outdoors in either neighbourhood regardless of rain or dry period were Bottles flasks and Storage, and indoors, Fixed, Flowerpots, and buckets. Productivity was estimated according to the number of premises and positive containers investigated, showing the actual container groups productivity. Considering both rainy and dry periods outdoors at Praça 14 the groups of Tyre, Flask, Bottle, Construction Equipment and Fixed, had the highest averages respectively. Construction Equipment and Flask groups were the most productive in Coroado in April. Flask, Construction Equipment and Storage groups stood out in July

The biting habits of Culicoides furens (Poey) and C. barbosai Wirth & Blanton. I. The 24-h cycle, with a note on differences between collectors

This paper reports the results of a field experiment on Florida beach, Falmouth, Jamaica, in which continuous observations were made on the biting rates of Culicoides furens (Poey) (7 707 specimens) and C. barbosai Wirth & Blanton (3 793 specimens) over two 48-h sessions in January 1960. Catches were standardised by the use of correction factors previously calculated. The standardisation experiments also provided additional information on parts of the 24-h cycle, particularly sunrise and sunset

Oogenesis in culicoides brevitarsis kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and the development of a plastron-like layer on the egg

In C. brevitarsis the mature egg was 290 μm long, average fecundity was 31-3, and duration of oogenesis 30-50 h at 24-26°C. When the first blood meal was consumed oocytes ranged from stage N0 to I, and 95.8% of females were mated; after a partial blood meal fewer oocytes were initiated and even fewer matured. It is highly likely that C. brevitarsis is anautogenous. Oocytes develop through the same stages as other Culicoides. Chorion developed well below the sheath in late stage IV, causing a reduction in width of oocytes at maturation. Ansulae develop in the space between the sheath and chorion by outward sclerotization, possibly along pore canals; they vary from tall (8-9 μm) and broad on the concave surface to short (5-6,μm) and narrow on the convex surface; those on the concave surface probably act as a plastron. The sheath surrounding the stage IV oocyte is destroyed during maturation. The secondary oocyte commences development when the primary is at stage III, and its development is arrested at either stage N or I almost simultaneously with the primary oocyte completing development. Development of the secondary oocyte is initiated but not controlled by development of the primary in the same ovariole

THE IMMATURE STAGES OF PARADASYHELEA MINUTA WIRTH AND LEE WITH A NOTE ON ADULT ANTENNAL SENSILLA AND A DISCUSSION ON THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THE GENUS PARADASYHELEA MACFIE

The 4th stage larva and pupa of Paradasyhelea minuta Wirth and Lee are described and their relationships with immatures of other ceratopogonids discussed. Paradasyhelea Macfie is most closely related to Culicoides Latreille. The distribution of antennal sensory pits is given for both sexes. Copyrigh

SUGAR FEEDING AND LONGEVITY IN CULICOIDES BREVITARSIS KIEFFER (DIPTERA: CERATOPOGONIDAE) IN THE LABORATORY

Longevity of adult Culicoides brevitarsis was determined by keeping laboratory reared adults in cages at 25°C and 75–85% R.H. When allowed access to no food, to water, or to 10% sucrose mean survival times in days were respectively males 1.4, females 1.1; males 1.6, females 3.1; and males 9.0, females 8.6. Flies orientated to water and to 10% sucrose from a maximum distance of 10mm. Most flies did not stop when they reached the water (mean time stationary = 0.3 s) but all stopped, for a mean of 118.8 s, at the 10% sucrose. Copyrigh

Habitats of Culicoides spp. in an intertidal zone of southeast Queensland, Australia.

The distribution of immature Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in the intertidal zone was investigated at Redland Bay near Brisbane, southeast Queensland. The aims of this study were to determine the distribution of Culicoides immatures and to identify environmental factors influencing these distributions. Light trapping of adult midges indicated that C.subimmaculatus Lee & Reye, C.marmoratus (Skuse), C.longior Hagan & Reye, C.henryi Lee & Reye, C.cordiger Macfie, may have been breeding in the study site. Soil sampling on six transects traversing mangrove and salt-marsh revealed the breeding habitats from which immature stages of the first four species were obtained. The elevation, vegetation and soils of positive sites were recorded and analysed for each species of Culicoides. The distribution of intertidal vegetation (mangroves and salt-marsh plants) was compared to MacNae's (1966) system of mangrove zonation for eastern Australia. The distribution of immature Culicoides did not correspond with mangrove zones, but was related to the presence or absence of intertidal vegetation. C.subimmaculatus was closely associated with a particular substrate and the presence of burrowing crabs

THE UNDESCRIBED MALE AND IMMATURE STAGES OF CULICOIDES INTERROGATUS LEE AND REYE

The species Culicoides interrogatus Lee and Reye was previously known from 6 females collected in New South Wales. This paper describes the breeding site, the unknown male and immature stages (pupa, 2nd, 3rd and 4th larval instars) based on material collected at Granite Creek, Queensland