Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
There have been several notable accomplishments in the study of the Family Culicidae. A book on the subject, Identification and Geographical Distribution of the Mosquiytoes of North America bny R.F. Darsie, Jr. and R.A. Ward was published in Jsanuary 2005. It is possible to identify all 174 species of mosquitoes in North America, north of Mexico. It has 383 pages and ii5 maps depicting the geographical distribution of all species, most of them on individual maps. An exhaustive bibliography of 815 references help the user. Two species new to the United States have been found in Monroe County, Florida, increasing thre total to 176 soecies. They are Anopheles grabhamii and Ochlerotatus condolescens which unfortunately were discovered after the publisher's deadline and are not included in the book. Anpther species new to Florida was found in the Florida panhandle, Culex coronator. This specied\s was collected in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Washington Counties in August,
2005. For years this species has been known in south Texas, but recently it is sprreading eastward. It has been reported fron Louisiana, and Mississippi, and now Florida. The description of the immature stages of three principal species of Culex, Cx. nigripalpus, Cx. salinarius and Cx. restuans. The pupa and fourth instar larva have been completed. A publication, entitled Key to the Adukt female and fourtgh instar larvae of the mosquitoes of Florida was completed in 2003. It includes the 76 species known from Florida.
Impacts
Same as above
Publications
- Darsie, R.F., Jr. and D.A. Shroyer. 2004. Culex (Culex) declarator Dyar and Knab, a mosquito new to Florida. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 29: 224-227.
- Darsie. R.F., Jr. and J.F. Day. 2006. Redescription of the pupa of Culex declarator Dyar and Knab (Diptera, Culicidae), with amendments to key to the Culex pupae of eastern United States. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 21: 128-130.
- Darsie, R.F., Jr., J.J. Vlach and E.M. Fussell. 2002. Discovery of a new addition to the mosquito fauna of United States, Anopheles grabhamii Theobald (Diptera, Culicidae). J. Med. Entomol. 39: 430-431.
- Darsie, R.F., Jr and J.F.Day. 2002. Studies of the genus Culex Linnaeus in Florida I. Redescription of the pupae of Culex nigripalpus Theobald and Cx. tarsalis Coquillett, vectors of St. Louis encephalitis, and a key to pupae of Culex species in Eastern United States (Diptera, Culicidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 104: 100-107.
- Darsie, R.F., Jr. 2003. Note: First report of Ochlerotatus condolescens (Dyar amd Knab) in the United States. Proc. Entomol.Soc. Wash. 105: 1067-1068.
- Darsie. R.F., Jr. amd C.D. Morris. 2003. Keys to the adult females and fourth instar larvae of the mosquitoes of Florida (Diptera, Culicidae). Fla. Mosq. Control Assoc. Tech. Bull. Vol. 1 (revised 2003), 159 pp.
- Darsie. R.F., Jr. and J.F. Day. 2004. Studies of the genus Culex in Florida II. Redescription of the fourth instar larva of Culex nigripalpus Theobald (Diptera, Culicidae). J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 20: 110-114.
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Progress 07/01/99 to 09/30/03
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The taxonomy of North American mosquitoes, European mosquitoes, and mosquitoes from the oriental region was modified and revised during the lifetime of this project. Specifically, the taxonomy of Aedes cretinus Edwards, the subgenus Stegomyia, and the genus Aedes was clarified relative to European Stegomyia species. The pupae of three species of Mimomyia from Napal were described and the known pupae of the genus Mimomyia in the Oriental and Australasian Regions were described and taxonomic keys were created and distributed to researchers around the world. These taxonomic revisions, new taxonomic keys, and the taxonomic relationships of mosquitoes from important regions throughout the world were disseminated through peer-reviewed scientific publications that have recently become available in electronic format to all interested parties.
PARTICIPANTS: Drs. Roxanne Connelly, Jonathan Day, Walter Tabachnick and Cynthia Lord participated in this project. This project supported, in part, an annual Advanced Mosquito Identification Course which was held at the University of Florida, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach Florida. In addition, a Mosquito Identification Course was offered annually as part of the Florida Mosquito Control Association Dodd Short Courses in Ocala, Florida.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include mosquito biologists, mosquito ecologists, mosquito taxonomists, medical entomologists, vector control specialists, and public health officials. The knowledge transferred to these individuals as part of this project translated directly into improved vector control efforts and improved public health for individuals throughout the world. The information derived from the study reported here was delivered through peer-reviewed scientific publications, presentations at local, regional, national and international scientific meetings, and through lectures and presentations in university classes, short courses, and public health forums.
Impacts
This project resulted in a change in knowledge relative to the currently accepted taxonomy of mosquitoes. This occured in several ways. First, new ranges were reported for mosquito species in areas where these mosquitoes were not previously known. For example, Anopheles grabhamii Theobald was reported for the first time in the United States as part of this study. Second, the taxonomy of known mosquito species was revised as part of this study. For example, the pupae of Culex nigripalpus and Culex tarsalis were redescribed as part of this study. The changes in knowledge generated by this project resulted in a change in action by mosquito biologists and mosquito taxonomists who now look for new mosquito species in areas where these species have not previously been reported. These changes in action become particularly important when new mosquiotes that are excellend disease vectors enter an area for the first time. It is critically important that these sepcies be
identified quickly and that these species be monitored for disease transmission in the new habitats in which they are found. For example, the establishment of Aedes albopictus and Aedes japonicus in North America may change the dynamics of mosquito-borne disease transmission in North America as it is currently understood. In addition, the introduction of these new species to North America may open the door to exotic mosquito-borne pathogens such as dengue and chikungunya viruses.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/01 to 10/01/02
Outputs
The project concerns the Family Diptera, Order Diptera, the family to which mosquitoes belong. There is a large collection of mosquitoes from the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal collected in the years 1989-1994 and supported by the National Geographic Society. Previously I was studying this collection, however recent developments at our Laboratory have changed my plan of work. I have been involved in a study of the principal vector of St. Louis encephalitis, Culex nigripalpus. A comparison of different populations of this species is designed to track any divergence which may be aopparent.
Impacts
Mosquitoes are vectors of human diseases and now there is a virus new to Florida, West Nile Virus, to be added to the mosquito-borne human illnesses. The more knowledge about the life stages and speciation of mosquitoes the better public health workers will be able to identify and understand the biology of important species. Also mosquito control agencies neew up-to-date information about species they need to control to make their operation more efficient.
Publications
- Darsie, R.F., Jr., Vlach, J.J. & Fussell, E.M. 2002. Discovery of a new addition to the mosquito fauna of United States, Anopheles grabhamii Theobald (Diptera, Culicidae). J. Med. Entomol. 39: 430-431.
- Darsie, R.F., Jr. & Day, J.F. 2002. Studies of the genus Culex Linnaeus in Florida I. Redescription of the pupae of Culex nigripalpus Theobald and Cx. tarsalis Coquillett, vectors of St. Louis encephalitis, and a key to pupae of eastern United States (Diptera, Culicidae0. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. (in press).
- Darsie, R.F., Jr. 2002. The identification of Ochlerotatus japonicus japonicus Theobald and a checklist of the Ochlerotatus and Aedes species in the Nearctic Region (Diptera, Culicidae0. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. (in press).
- Darsie, R.F., Jr. 2002. Redescription of the pupa of Culex. (Melanoconion) iolambdis Dyar. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. (in press).
- Reeves, W.K. & Darsie, R.F., Jr. 2002. Discovery of Culex (Neoculex) arizonensis Bohart in Texas. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. (in press).
- Darsie, R.F., Jr. & Day, J.F. 2002. Report on mosquito collections from an urban habitat, Vero Beach, Florida, 2000-2001. Wing Beats (in press).
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Progress 10/01/00 to 10/01/01
Outputs
The project concerns the family Culicidae, Order Diptera, the family to which mosquitoes belong. There is in FMEL a large collection of the mosquitoes collected in Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal in the years 1989-1994 supported by the National Geographic Society. Previously I was studying this collection for it has many taxa to be investigated. However, recent developments at our lab have changed my plan of work for I have been involved in a study of the vector of St. Louis encephalitis, Culex nigripalpus. This study has lead to the comparison of different populations to track any divergence which may be apparent. The mosquito fauna of Florida continues to receive attention. The identification manual, entitled Keys to the Adult Females and Fourth Instar Larvae of the Mosquitoes of Florida has been published, and contains very significant taxonomic changes in the names of Florida mosquito species, in addition adding a newly described mosquito from Dade Co. It will be
important for the Florida mosquito control districts to have this manual so as to be able to correctly recognize and name the mosquito species with which they are dealing.
Impacts
Mosquitoes are vectors of human diseases and now there is a virus new to Florida, West Nile virus, to be added to the mosquito-borne human illnesses. The more knowledge about the life stages of mosquitoes the better public health workers will be able to identify and understand the biology of important species. Also mosquito control agencies need up-to-date information about the species they are controlling to make their operation more efficient.
Publications
- __________. 1999, Description of the pupa of Aedes cretinus Edwards, a key to the pupae of the albopictus subgroup, subgenus Stegomyia, genus Aedes Meigen, and characters to separate the European Stegomyia species (Diptera, Culicidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 101(3): 614-619.
- __________. 2000. Description of the pupae of five species in the subgenus Armigeres, genus Armigeres Theobald, with a key to species of the known pupae of the subgenus (Diptera, Culicidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 102(1): 108-119.
- __________. and Ronald A. Ward. 2000. Summary of new distribution records for mosquito species in the United States and Canada for the period 1981-99. J. Am Mosq. Control Assoc. 16: 1-4.
- __________. 2000. The pupae of three species of Mimomyia Theobald from Nepal and a key to the known pupae of the genus in the Oriental and Australasian Regions (Diptera: Culicidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 102(3): 625-635.
- __________. 2000. Description of the pupa of Armigeres (Leicesteria) omissus (Edwards) and a key to the larvae and pupae of the Armigeres occurring in Nepal (Diptera: Culicidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 102(4): 964-968.
- __________. and Charlie D. Morris. 2000. Keys to the adult females and fourth-instar larvae of the mosquitoes of Florida. Florida Mosquito Control Association Technical Bulletin No. 1, 159 pp. (In press).
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