Abstract
THE length and shape of the anal papillæ of mosquito larvæ, although a useful aid to other diagnostic factors, have never been a critical specific factor. Kettle1 has shown that the length of the anal papillæ of Anopheles sergenti Theobald is dependent on the saline content of the larval habitat and that small changes in salinity may produce a large difference in the length of the anal papillæ. A similar observation has been noted in Mauritius, where larvæ of Culex fatigans Wd. show variation in length of the anal papillæ, according to the salinity of their habitat. This variation may be so great and so striking as to cause some doubt as to the immediate identification of the larvæ.
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Kettle, D. S., Ann. Trop. Med. Parasit., 42, 5 (1948).
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HALCROW, J. Observations on the Anal Papillæ of Culex (culex) fatigans Wiedemann. Nature 172, 1156 (1953). https://doi.org/10.1038/1721156a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1721156a0
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