Études Écologiques sur la Faune Culicidienne d'Une Relique Forestière en Zone de Savane Africaine: Deuxième Partie

Abstract

SummaryPH. Gayral, G. Pichon, J. Hamon: Ecological studies on the mosquitos of a relictual forest in the west african savana. II.Mosquitos of a relictual forest in the west african savanna have been classified and their population studied by catches with light traps, ovitraps, and by 72 hours catches on human bait.Biology of the principal species is described with seasonal variations and 24 hours biting cycle. Anopheles nili is the most important nocturnal anthropophilic species, with biting activity lower when the moon is bright.Mansonia africana and M. uniformis are present through out the entire dry season. Among anthropophilic Aedes., A. africanus, A. luteocephalus, A. jamoti, A. cumminsi are the most abundant. Southern species occuring in the forest seem to be at the northern limit of their distribution: Ae. dendrophilus, An. obscurus, An. paludis.In the relic forest, some species may be active longer than in savanna and can even live through the dry season as adults. First generations hatch there earlier.This forest appears to be a refuge for savanna species. The contact between fauna of savanna culicide and those of the forest and the prolongation of activity or survival of certain females through dry season permit the conclusion that such a vegetal formation may be important in the epidemiology of mosquito borne diseases in west african savanna.