Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Diversity and Community Structure in Doi Inthanon National Park, Northern Thailand.

Urbanization and human activities create new suitable aquatic habitats for the immature stages of mosquitoes in many countries. This also applies to Doi Inthanon National Park in northern Thailand, which is named for the highest mountain in the country. Despite its popularity, there is no information regarding mosquito diversity and community structure in the different ecosystems of the park. Monthly collections of immature stages from various habitats were conducted from August 2004 to December 2005 using dipping and sucking methods. The specimens collected from each habitat were reared to adults and identified based on their morphology. Diversity parameters and community structure were statistically analyzed. A total of 140 species (3795 specimens) belonging to 15 genera were identified. Among these, four genera (Culex, Aedes, Anopheles, and Uranotaenia) had high species richness, each represented by 48, 27, 19, and 15 species, respectively. Aedes albopictus was the most relatively abundant species, representing 6.7% of the total number of captured specimens, followed by Tripteroides aranoides (5.6%) and Cx. mimulus (5%). Species richness in natural habitats was significantly higher than in artificial containers. Species richness and abundance were highest in the rainy season. In comparison to agricultural areas and villages, mosquito diversity was found to be higher in forest areas. Ground pools, stream pools, rock pools, bamboo stumps, bamboo internode, and rice fields were the most preferred natural habitats. The results indicate that Doi Inthanon National Park has a high mosquito diversity. Each species exhibits differences in abundance and distribution in different habitats, which is useful information for planning conservation measures and vector control in the park.

Anopheles prachongae, a new species of the Gigas Complex of subgenus Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) in Thailand, contrasted with known forms of the complex.

Anopheles (Anopheles) prachongae, a new species of the Gigas Complex from northern Thailand, is described and illustrated in the adult, pupal and larval stages, and bionomics and chaetotaxy tables are provided for the immature stages. The species is distinguished from Anopheles baileyi, the only other species of the complex known to occur in Thailand, and contrasted with other taxa of the complex that occur in the Oriental Region. Available morphological data indicate that An. gigas sumatrana is unique and is therefore formally afforded species status. The three other Sumatran subspecies may be conspecific. The taxonomic status of the non-Sumatran subspecies, i.e. crockeri (Borneo), formosus (Philippines), refutans (Sri Lanka) and simlensis (south-central Asia), is questioned but their status is unchanged pending further study.

Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand. VI. Tribe Aedini.

Illustrated keys for the identification of the fourth-instar larvae and adult females of the mosquito species of tribe Aedini in Thailand are presented, along with the geographic distribution of the species and the known habitats of their immature stages. The keys are the first to encompass the recent revisionary studies of tribe Aedini. One hundred and seventy-five species of Aedini belonging to 38 genera and 18 subgenera are recognized in Thailand. Two species of genus Armigeres, two of genus Collessius, and one of genus Downsiomyia are undescribed. Himalaius simlensis [formerly Aedes (Finlaya) simlensis], Hopkinsius (Yamada) albocinctus [formerly Aedes (Finlaya) albocinctus], Downsiomyia nipponica and Downsiomyia saperoi [formerly species of Aedes (Finlaya)], and Hulecoeteomyia pallirostris [formerly Ochlerotatus (Finlaya) pallirostris] are new country records. Aedimorphus (formerly a subgenus of Aedes), Cancraedes, and Rhinoskusea (formerly subgenera of Ochlerotatus) are recognized as genera, and genus Petermattinglyius includes species previously included in Diceromyia (formerly a subgenus of Aedes) in Thailand. Heteraspidion, Huangmyia, Stegomyia, and Xyele are newly recognized subgenera of genus Stegomyia (formerly a subgenus of Aedes), which includes eight species without subgeneric placement. Two unidentified and unplaced species were discovered in Thailand.

Molecular and cytogenetic evidence of three sibling species of the Anopheles barbirostris Form A (Diptera:Culicidae) in Thailand.

Nine isoline colonies of Anopheles barbirostris Form A, derived from individual isofemale lines from Chiang Mai, Phetchaburi, and Kanchanaburi, were established in our insectary at Chiang Mai University. All isolines shared the same mitotic karyotype (X(1), X(2), Y(1)). Molecular analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of ITS2, COI, and COII regions revealed three distinct groups: A1 (Chiang Mai), A2 (Phetchaburi), and A3 (Kanchanaburi). Crossing experiments among the three groups exhibited strong reproductive isolation, producing low and/or non-hatched eggs, and inviable and/or abnormal development of the reproductive system of F(1)-progenies. Asynaptic regions along the five polytene chromosome arms of F(1)-hybrid larvae clearly supported the existence of three sibling species within A. barbirostris Form A, provisionally named species A1, A2, and A3.

Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand V. Genera Orthopodomyia, Kimia, Malaya, Topomyia, Tripteroides, and Toxorhynchites.

Illustrated keys for the identification of the fourth-instar larvae and adults of species representing six genera of mosquitoes in Thailand are presented, along with information about the geographic distribution of the species and the habitats occupied by their immature stages. Fifty-nine species belonging to genera Orthopodomyia, Kimia, Malaya, Topomyia, Tripteroides, and Toxorhynchites are recognized. Topomyia argyropalpis, To. bifurcata, To. gracilis, To. spathulirostris, To. tenuis, To. tipuliformis, and To. vijayae are included as new country records, and ten undescribed species, four in Topomyia, four in Toxorhynchites, and two in Tripteroides, are recognized.

Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand III. Genera Aedeomyia, Ficalbia, Mimomyia, Hodgesia, Coquillettidia, Mansonia, and Uranotaenia.

Illustrated keys for the identification of fourth-instar larvae and adult females of seven genera of mosquitoes are presented, along with the geographic distribution of each species and the known immature habitats. Sixty-seven mosquito species belonging to genera Aedeomyia, Ficalbia, Mimomyia, Hodgesia, Coquillettidia, Mansonia, and Uranotaenia are recognized in Thailand. Hodgesia bailyi and Uranotaenia (Pfc.) abstrusa are included as new country records, and four new undescribed species in the subgenus Uranotaenia are reported.

Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand. IV. Anopheles.

Illustrated keys for the identification of the larvae and adult female Anopheles mosquitoes of Thailand are presented along with distribution maps, tabulated bionomics information, and a checklist. A total of 73 species are treated, including 71 previously and newly described species (An. cracens = dirus B, An. scanloni = dirus C, An. baimaii = dirus D, An. latens = leucosphyrus A, and An. epiroticus = sundaicus A). Also, two undescribed species are included, i.e., An. minimus C and a new species near An. gigas. Thirty-four chromosomal forms of 14 species are discussed, with suggestions provided for resolving their taxonomic status.

Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand. II. Genera Culex and Lutzia.

Illustrated keys for the identification of the fourth-instar larvae and adult females of the mosquito genera Culex and Lutzia is presented, along with information on the geographic distribution of each species, and bionomics. Eighty-two species belonging to subgenera Culex, Culiciomyia, Eumelanomyia, Lophoceraomyia, and Oculeomyia of genus Culex, and three species belonging to subgenus Metalutzia of genus Lutzia are recognized in Thailand. Subgenus Oculeomyia includes a probable new species near Cx. infula and Lt. vorax is recognized as a new country record.

Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand I. Background; geographic distribution; lists of genera, subgenera, and species; and a key to the genera.

This is the first of a series of six sections that will cover 436 species of mosquitoes currently known to occur in Thailand. In this section we provide information on the background, geographic distribution, bionomics, lists of genera, subgenera, and specie of mosquitoes that occur in Thailand, and a key to the genera. The sections, listed below will be published as separate supplements in following issues of this journal: II. Key to the Culex; III. Key to the Aedeomyia, Ficalbia, Mimomyia, Hodgesia, Coquillettidia, Mansonia, and Uranotaenia. The additional 3 supplements consisting of the Key to the Tribe Aedini; Key to the Anopheles; and the Keys to the Armigeres, Heizmannia, Orthopodomyia, Malaya, Topomyia, Tripteroides, and Toxorhynchites will be published as they are completed. At the conclusion of this project, one large supplement to the Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health will be produced that includes all of these keys in a single document.

Aedine mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae: Aedini) occurring in Thailand with their current generic and subgeneric status, and new country records.

A list of the currently valid generic and species-level taxa of tribe Aedini in Thailand is provided. Its purpose is to enable entomologists, public health personnel and mosquito control workers to more quickly become familiar with recent formal taxonomic changes within the tribe. New country records of four species of Armigeres are reported.