Limitation of larval parasitic water mite infestation in age-gradation of adult Anopheles
Biswas, S.; Wattal, B.L.; Tyagi, D.; Kumar, K.
Journal of Communicable Diseases 12(4): 214-215
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5138 PMID: 7320486 Document Number: 164214
The theory that infestation of Anopheles females by larval water mites indicates nulliparity was tested in Uttar Pradesh, India, by examination of females of A. culicifacies Giles, A. annularis Wulp and A. stephensi List. caught in human dwellings in Arthala village in March-April 1980; about 7.8, 28.7 and 7.8% of the captured females of these species, respectively, were found to be infested by larvae of Arrenurus sp. mainly in the cervical region, and 1 female of Anopheles annularis was infested by a mite of the family Thysidae. Although all the infested females of A. annularis and A. stephensi were nulliparous, 36.8% of the infested females of A. culicifacies had passed through 1 gonotrophic cycle and bore a single mite attached to the cervical region, whereas the remaining nulliparous 63.2% bore 1-9 mites each in the same region. These results suggest that mite infestation is not a reliable indication of nulliparity in Anopheles spp. This is the first record of adults of A. culicifacies being infested by mite larvae, and also the first record of infestation of A. annularis by a mite of the family Thysidae.