Evidence for the existence of genetic variability in the tendency of Anopheles balabacensis to rest in houses and to bite man.

ABSTRACT

Mark-release-recapture experiments were carried out in Sabah, East Malaysia on the malaria and filariasis vector, Anopheles balabacensis. Samples of wild females were marked with different colours of fluorescent pigments, released in man-baited huts fitted with exit traps. Simultaneous collections and releases were also made in night-biting catches on a water buffalo and on four men. All subsequent recaptures were made in the same situation in which the mosquitoes were marked. The same individual mosquitoes were caught biting men and buffalo on different occasions and the numbers caught showed a strong preference for man over buffalo. The length of the oviposition cycle in the field was found to be 3.0 days. After blood-feeding on man in a hut, An. balabacensis were found to exit on the night or early morning. The same individual mosquitoes were found resting in the hut or exit trap on different occasions. The results indicate that there is strong evidence for the existence of genetic variability in the tendency of An. balabacensis to rest in houses and to bite man and buffalo. The obvious existence of this phenomenon is considered discouraging for the prospects of interruption of malaria transmitted by An. balabacensis in nature.