Aedes hensilli is a mosquito species originally collected in 1945 on Ulithi atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km (103 nautical mi) east of Yap State.[1] It is the most abundant and widespread Aedes (Stegomyia) species mosquito in Yap State, the only Aedes (Stegomyia) species on Woleai, and the only species of mosquito present on Eauripik.[2]

Aedes hensilli
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Culicidae
Genus: Aedes
Species:
A. hensilli
Binomial name
Aedes hensilli
Farner, 1945

The specific epithet recognizes the collector of the type specimens, Dr. George S. Hensill.[1]

Ecology edit

Larvae of Ae. hensilli develop in empty coconut shells, tree holes, and bamboo, and in artificial containers such as tin cans, discarded drums, barrels, bottles, tires, tarps, and floats; larvae were not found in leaf axils of pandanus trees or in taro plants.[1] Water barrels used to collect rainwater are major contributors to mosquito production due to the high number of larvae and pupae hosted in them.[3]

The adults are active primarily at dusk.[1]

Medical importance edit

Ae. hensilli is a potential vector of dengue virus[2] and Zika virus[3] and laboratory studies have indicated that it could play a role in transmitting other medically important arbovirus and chikungunya viruses [3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d D. S. Farner, Lieutenant (JG), H(S), USNR. 1945. A New Species of Aedes from the Caroline Islands (Diptera, Culicidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 58 (May 7, 1945): 59-62.
  2. ^ a b Fritz, C L; Savage, H M; Yolwa, A; Gubler, D J; Vorndam, V; Rutstein, D (1 April 1998). "Epidemic of dengue-4 virus in Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia, and implication of Aedes hensilli as an epidemic vector". The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 58 (4): 519–524. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.1998.58.519. PMID 9574802.
  3. ^ a b c Ledermann, Jeremy P.; Guillaumot, Laurent; Yug, Lawrence; Saweyog, Steven C.; Tided, Mary (9 October 2014). "Aedes hensilli as a Potential Vector of Chikungunya and Zika Viruses". PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 8 (10): e3188. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003188. PMC 4191940. PMID 25299181.