Title
Variability of larval identification characters of exotic Aedes albopictus (Skuse) intercepted in Darwin, Northern Territory
Series
Communicable Disease Intelligence
Vol. 27 No. 1
Author(s)
Lamche GD
Whelan PI
Abstract
There is no morphological identification key to satisfactorily distinguish between the larvae of Aedes (Stegomyia) species with special consideration to endemic and exotic species in Australia. Difficulty in differentiation between exotic Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) and Aedes (Stegomyia) scutellaris Walker has been described previously. Aedes (Stegomyia) larvae were collected during an interception from an overseas vessel in Darwin, Northern Territory, and link bred. The adults were identified as Ae. albopictus. The larval skins and larvae were used to describe the variation in hair features of larval segment VII that are used to identify Ae. albopictus. The median hair number of hair 1-VII was three, whereas the description in Huang’s identification key1 states four. The median of hair 2-VII was one, confirming Huang.1 However, the variability was higher than described by Huang1 and nearly half of the specimens showed different hair numbers on both sides. Individual specimens are therefore not clearly distinguished from other members of the Aedes (Stegomyia) scutellaris group. This paper also describes the detection, elimination and surveillance procedures following the interception. These were successful in preventing the establishment of exotic Ae. albopictus in the Northern Territory following the interception.
Publisher
The Office of Health Protection in the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
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Name
Variability of larval identification characters.doc
Size
23 KB
Format
Microsoft Word
Checksum
(MD5):a8f19cbd7e0828e9b7ab48deb53d4143
Date Issued
2003-03
Type
Journal Article
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