ARS | Publication request: AN ANALYSIS OF THE CUTICULAR HYDROCARBONS FOR THE ANOPHELES QUADRIMACULATUSCOMPLEX (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

Submitted to: Journal of the Mosquito Control Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 1, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Anopheles quadrimaculatus is the principlal malaria-carrying mosquito in the eastern half of the United States. Recently, using biochemical, genetic, molecular and morphological tests, it was determined that this species comprises a complex of five different species. Scientists at the USDA's Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville, Florida have now developed an additional, new method for identifying these mosquito species. The method consists of the chemical analysis of substances washed from the outside surface of the mosquito's body. Use of this technique in combination with computer analysis of the relative quantities of each substance washed from the mosquito's body, resulted in the identification of all mosquito specimens to species. This new procedure provides a relatively simple and accurate method for identifying mosquitoes collected in nature.

Technical Abstract: Cuticular hydrocarbons were extracted from females of 5 species of the Anopheles quadrimaculatus complex and studied by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The data were analyzed by multivariate techniques to determine the degree of divergence in hydrocarbon patterns and to develop models which allow the discrimination of these species. Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, An. smaragdinus Reinert and An. maverlius Reinert could be separated at 100% from each other and from An. diluvialis Reinert and An. inundatus Reinert; however, separation of An. diluvialis from An. inundatus was 80% using a two-way model.