Abstract
IN the Bulletin of Entomological Research (36, Pt. 1 ; 1945), A. J. Haddow of the Yellow Fever Research Institute, Entebbe, discusses the mosquitoes of the Bwamba country, Uganda. The work has special reference to a single species-Aëdes (Stegomyia) simpsoni Thea.-which appears to be the main carrier of the virus of yellow fever among human beings in the territory just mentioned. Ecological studies showed that forest was cooler and moister by day than a banana plantation, while the latter was cooler and moister than the open air. At night, however, the climate of all three environments was strikingly similar. Experimental catches made over 24-hour periods and large-scale routine catches were carried out. As the result it appeared that Aëdes simpsoni bites mainly in coffee gardens, maize fields and in the thinner parts and fringes of banana plantations. It is scarce in exposed situations and prefers the blood of man to that of goats, fowls or monkeys. It is demonstrated that many forest mosquitoes occur in banana plantations. Analysis of day and night catches seems to point to their migrating into plantations, from the forest, at night time. The results of catches in forest and banana plantations show that there are two types of biting cycle. In one there are two main peaks of activity in twenty-four hours, usually about sunrise and sunset. In the other there is a single peak of activity in twenty-four hours which may occur by day or by night. It is suggested that these cycles are dependent on features of the microclimate, and the findings are believed to have a bearing upon yellow fever epidemiology.
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The Mosquitoes of Uganda. Nature 157, 73 (1946). https://doi.org/10.1038/157073a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/157073a0