Anopheles pseudopunctipennis

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Anopheles pseudopunctipennis
Anopheles pseudopunctipennis.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Culicidae
Genus: Anopheles
Subgenus: Anopheles
Species:
A. pseudopunctipennis
Binomial name
Anopheles pseudopunctipennis
Theobald, 1901

Anopheles pseudopunctipennis is a species of mosquito belonging to the Anopheles genus.

Contents

Distribution

This species is widely distributed across the Americas, from the southern United States to northern Argentina, including the Andes and the Lesser Antilles. It is particularly prevalent in foothills and valleys of mountainous regions, where it thrives in arid environments. [1] [2]

The larvae of An. pseudopunctipennis are found in sunlit freshwater pools, often located in dry, arid valleys or foothills. These pools typically contain clear, shallow water with abundant filamentous green algae, which serve as a primary habitat for immature stages. The species is most active during the dry season when such breeding sites are more common. [3]

Medical importance

As a major malaria vector in the Americas, An. pseudopunctipennis is responsible for transmitting Plasmodium vivax and other malaria-causing protozoans to humans. It plays a particularly critical role in malaria transmission during the dry season when other mosquito species may be less active. [4]

Studies have shown that reducing filamentous algae in breeding sites can significantly lower larval densities and adult populations of An. pseudopunctipennis. Such interventions are important for controlling malaria transmission in endemic areas. [3]

References

  1. Manguin, Sylvie; Roberts, Donald R.; Andre, Richard G.; Rejmankova, Eliska; Hakre, Shilpa (1996-03-01). "Characterization of Anopheles darlingi (Diptera: Culicidae) Larval Habitats in Belize, Central America". Journal of Medical Entomology. 33 (2): 205–211. doi:10.1093/jmedent/33.2.205. ISSN   1938-2928. PMID   8742522.
  2. Pinault, Lauren L.; Hunter, Fiona F. (2012-05-01). "Characterization of larval habitats of Anopheles albimanus, Anopheles pseudopunctipennis, Anopheles punctimacula, and Anopheles oswaldoi s.l. populations in lowland and highland Ecuador" . Journal of Vector Ecology. 37 (1): 124–136. doi:10.1111/j.1948-7134.2012.00209.x. ISSN   1081-1710. PMID   22548546.
  3. 1 2 Bond, J. G.; Rojas, J. C.; Arredondo–Jiménez, J. I.; Quiroz-Martínez, H.; Valle, J.; Williams, T. (2004-10-22). "Population control of the malaria vectorAnopheles pseudopunctipennisby habitat manipulation". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences. 271 (1553): 2161–2169. doi:10.1098/rspb.2004.2826. ISSN   0962-8452. PMC   1691844 . PMID   15475337.
  4. Rueda, Leopoldo M.; Peyton, E. L.; Manguin, Sylvie (2004-01-01). "Anopheles (Anopheles) pseudopunctipennisTheobald (Diptera: Culicidae): Neotype Designation and Description". Journal of Medical Entomology. 41 (1): 12–22. doi: 10.1603/0022-2585-41.1.12 . ISSN   0022-2585. PMID   14989341.