Anopheline Mosquitoes of the Solomon Islands and New Hebrides

Until less than three years ago, only two anopheline mosquitoes, Anopheles pufnctulatus and A. punctulatus moluccensis, had been reported as occurring in the Solomon Islands and New Hebrides. However, the presence of A. punctulatus was questionable as a state of confusion existed in regard to the exact taxonomic position of these species. Extensive collections during the past two years have revealed the existence of at least six species in this area. We feel that sufficient data have been accumulated to warrant a summary of the taxonomic status and the biology of these mosquitoes. Inasmuch as these species differ considerably in their habits, the presentation of this information slhould facilitate the determination of the relative importance of the disease transmitters as well as the formulation of control measures directed against the dangerous species. The most intensive collections have been made on Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides and on Guadalcanal in the lower Solomon Islands, and involved not only the rearing of adults from individual larvae taken from as many natural breeding places as possible, but also the rearing of progeny of isolated females, which had been captured in natural resting places and native dwellings. Such rearings enabled us to detetmine the extent of normal variation within families, and to select the characters which remained constant and hence were of specific value. The distribution of the species in other islands of these groups is based upon material taken by a number of collectors.