NPSpecies

Frequent. (Connelly, 2010)

Distribution: Darsie and Ward (2005): Mexico; Eastern United States. GSMNP: North Carolina, Tennessee Egg: Laid singly on the surface of permanent waters of lakes, rivers, and swamps, primarily in the protected still waters along the edges and banks. Eggs will not survive desiccation. Larva and pupa: The larvae of Anopheles spp. do not have breathing siphons that are seen in larvae of all other mosquito genera. The larvae must come to the surface and lay horizontally in order to breather. The larval habitat for Anopheles quadrimaculatus is clean slow moving waters of cypress and other freshwater swamps, backwaters of rivers and streams. Adult: Peak populations of adult An. quadrimaculatus occur in the hot summer months of July and August, and a decline in the numbers of adults are begin in late August and early September. The females feed primarily in the evening and are highly attracted to large mammals such as horses, cattle, and humans. Adults are the overwintering stage and will spend this time in protected dark areas such as large treeholes, the ceilings and high corners of old buildings and barns, and under bridges. Medical Importance: Vector of malaria. Anopheles quadrimaculatus was the primary vector of malaria in the southeastern United States prior to the decline of malaria in the 1950s. In the 1990s, Reinert et al. (1997) discovered that what was previously known as a singular species, An. quadrimaculatus, was actually 5 different species, now known as the Anopheles quadrimaculatus Species Complex, that are morphologically similar, but differ in the larval habitats, geographic distribution, and their ability to produce viable offspring when cross-mated. Initially, there were several methods developed to distinguish the species, but there were no reliable morphological characters that could be used for identification. In 1997, Reinert et al. produced a taxonomic key based on morphology; however, to see the characters used in the key, a pristine specimen must be used. The primary distinguishing feature is the number of setae on thorax which can be numerous. Most of the adult specimens that were c0llected came from a light trap where setae are invariably knocked off making the morphological key unreliable. When species in the Complex cannot be determined using the morphological keys or through DNA determination or other techniques, they are identified as An. quadrimaculatus sensu lato (in the general sense). When a positive identification is made using one of the published techniques, they are referred to as An. quadrimaculatus sensu stricto Say (in the strictest sense), An. diluvialis Reinert 1997, An. inundatus Reinert 1997, An. maverlius Reinert 1997, or An. smaragdinus Reinert 1997. The specimens collected for the ATBI were not identified to the strict species, but rather in the broad sense. It is possible that there are more than one species of the Complex established in the GSMNP. (Connelly, 2010)