Species Toxorhynchites (Toxorhynchites) splendens (Wiedemann, 1819)
- Culex splendens Wiedemann, C.R.W. 1819. Zoologisches Magazin. Hammerich : Altona Vol. 1 pt 3. [2].
Type data:
Status unknown, NMW ♂ or ♂♂, Java, Indonesia; ZMUC ♂ or ♂♂, Java, Indonesia
Comment: In Wiedemann's and Westerman's Collections (ZMUC and NMW respectively), (Brunetti, E. 1920). Edwards, F.W. 1922, notes (p.275) that he borrowed types of this and other species from NMW but they were 'destroyed in transit on the return journey' from BM. Barraud, P.J. 1934, for specimen in NMW, states 'Type ♀'. This may be an error, or may refer to a specimen identified and designated after publication of the original description, in which case it has no status. Stone, A., Knight, K.L. & Starke, H. (1959), Knight, K.L. & Stone, A. (1977), and Steffan, W.A. (1977) all list type material in NMW and ZMUC.Type locality references:
Brunetti, E. 1920. Catalogue of Oriental and South Asiatic Nemocera. Records of the Indian Museum 17: 1-300 [116-118]; Edwards, F.W. 1922. A synopsis of adult Oriental Culicine (including Megarhinine and Sabethine) mosquitoes. Part II. Indian Journal of Medical Research 10(2): 430-475 [275]; Barraud, P.J. 1934. The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Diptera, Vol. V. Familiy Culicidae. Tribes Megarhinini and Culicini. London : Taylor & Francis pp.463. [24-48]; Stone, A., Knight, K.L. & Starcke, H. 1959. A Synoptic Catalog of the Mosquitoes of the World (Diptera, Culicidae). The Thomas Say Foundation, Vol. VI. Washington : Entomological Society of America 358 pp. [64]; Knight, K.L. & Stone, A. 1977. A Catalog of the Mosquitoes of the World (Diptera: Culicidae). The Thomas Say Foundation. College Park, Maryland : Entomological Society of America Vol. 6. [362]; Steffan, W.A. 1977. Source of type material of Toxorhynchites (Diptera: Culicidae). Mosquito Systematics 9(1): 58-71 [66]; Lee, D.J., Hicks, M.M., Debenham, M.L., Griffiths, M., Bryan, J.H. & Marks, E.N. 1988. The Culicidae of the Australasian Region. Nomenclature, synonymy, literature, distribution, biology and relation to disease. Genera Maorigoeldia, Mimomyia, Opifex, Orthopodomyia, Topomyia, Toxorhynchites. University of Queensland and University of Sydney in collaboration with Commonwealth Department of Community Services & Health. Monograph Series. Entomology Monograph No. 2. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 10 105 pp. [95-104].
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
Generic Combinations
- Toxorhynchites (Toxorhynchites) splendens (Wiedemann, 1819).
Introduction
A typical container breeding species using relatively small natural and artificial containers such as tree and log holes, bamboos, cocnut shells, barrels and discarded tins. Also recorded from pitcher plants and leaf axils.
Adults apparently feed on nectar, they do not bite humans. Larvae are predatory, recorded feeding on tadpoles, tipulid and chironomid larvae and all types of mosquito larvae, and larvae are cannibalistic.
T. splendens was introduced into Fiji as a biological control agent for mosquitos (Paine, R.W. 1934). Newkirk, M.R. (1947) suggested they were ineffective biological control agents because they are cannibalistic.
Distribution
States
Queensland
Extra Distribution Information
Java, Moluccas, Lesser Sundas, Irian Jaya, Fiji (introduced)
IBRA
Qld: Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU)
Other Regions
Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater
Distribution References
- Lee, D.J., Hicks, M.M., Debenham, M.L., Griffiths, M., Bryan, J.H. & Marks, E.N. 1988. The Culicidae of the Australasian Region. Nomenclature, synonymy, literature, distribution, biology and relation to disease. Genera Maorigoeldia, Mimomyia, Opifex, Orthopodomyia, Topomyia, Toxorhynchites. University of Queensland and University of Sydney in collaboration with Commonwealth Department of Community Services & Health. Monograph Series. Entomology Monograph No. 2. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 10 105 pp. [102-103]
- Marks, E.N. 1980. Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Cape York Peninsula, Australia. pp. 59-76 in Stevens, N.C. & Bailey, A. (eds). Contemporary Cape York Peninsula. The proceedings of a symposium held at the Kindler Lecture Theatre, Queensland Institute of Technology, 29 October, 1979. Brisbane : Royal Society of Queensland. [69]
General References
Newkirk, M.R. 1947. Observations on Megarhinus splendens Wiedemann with reference to its value in biological control of other mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 40: 522-527
Paine, R.W. 1934. The introduction of Megarhinus mosqitoes into Fiji. Bulletin of Entomological Research 25: 1-32
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02-Nov-2011 | 02-Nov-2011 | MOVED | ||
| 31-Oct-2011 | ADDED |