A STUDY OF TWO SIBLING SPECIES OF ANOPHELES FARAUTI LAVERAN SENSU LATO (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE) AT DARWIN, NORTHERN TERRITORY

Abstract

Abstract Anopheles farauti No. 1 and No. 3 from Darwin were identified by electrophoresis and aspects of their biology and behaviour compared. Greatest numbers of both sibling species were caught in the first few hours after dusk. In paired indoor and outdoor human landing collections, 10.5% of An. farauti No. 1 were caught indoors. CO2‐baited EVS traps caught 2.8 times more An. farauti s.l. than simultaneous human landing catches. An. farauti No. 3 was more attracted to traps than An. farauti No. 1. A host choice study revealed both sibling species preferred calf and pig to dog, human and fowls. There was no evidence of a difference in anthropophily between An. farauti No. 1 and No. 3. An. farauti No. 1 represented a greater proportion of trap catches near brackish water and An. farauti No. 3 in fresh water areas. The only larvae found were An. farauti No. 1 in brackish water near the coast. Adult density was greatest during the transition between wet and dry seasons (April‐May). Numbers of An. farauti No. 3 thereafter declined more rapidly than those of An. farauti No. 1.