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Mortalities of the larvae of the Anopheles gambiae Giles complex and detection of predators by the precipitin test

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

M. W. Service
Affiliation:
The Nature Conservancy, Monks Wood Experimental Station, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, England

Extract

Larval populations of the Anopheles gambiae Giles complex (species A and B) were sampled in Kenya, and from the frequencies of the age distribution of the immature stages time-specific life-tables were constructed. Daily survival rates and instar mortalities showed that there was high mortality amongst fourth-instar larvae, due at least in part to infections of larval nematodes, Coelomomyces and epibionts. Antiserum to the A. gambiae complex was prepared in rabbits so that the precipitin test could be employed to detect the presence of A. gambiae in gut smears taken from possible predators. By this serological technique various spiders, Diptera, Coleoptera and amphibia were identified as predators. These may be very important in regulating populations of A. gambiae even in small collections of water.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1973

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