Vol. 5, Issue 1, Part A (2018)

Author(s): Nour El Houda Boudemagh, Fatiha Bendali-Saoudi and Noureddine Soltani

Abstract: To identify the mosquito species competent for West Nile virus (WNV) transmission, we have proceeded to the morphometry study of three mosquito species belonging to the same genus Culiseta (Culiseta (Allotheobaldia) longiareolata Macquart 1838, Culiseta (Culiseta) subochrea Edwards 1921 and Culiseta (Culiseta) glaphyroptera Schiner 1864. These species have been harvested in the region of Collo (Northeast Algeria), which is characterized by a Mediterranean climate. Measurements of 32 structures considered important in the taxonomy of male and female adults, have been carried out. The exploitation of morphometric data of females and the statistical analysis showed significant differences concerning the width of the head, the length of the thorax, and the length of the tibia of the 3^rd leg, respectively. Highly significant differences were revealed in the length of the palps and the length of tarsi of the 3^rd leg. Very highly significant differences have been observed in the length of: pronotum; antennas; abdomen; wing; femur; tibia and tarsus of the 1^st leg; femur; tibia and tarsus of 2^nd leg; femur and tibia of 3^rd leg. The width of: pronotum; antennas; palps; thorax; wing; tarsus of the 2^nd leg; tarsus of the 3^rd leg. For males, the statistical analysis indicated significant differences between the widths of: pronotum, femur and tarsus of the 1^st leg. Highly significant differences were also noticed between the length of the abdomen and the width of the wing. Moreover, the test shows very highly significant differences concerning the length and the width of: palps; antenna; thorax; femur; tibia and tarsus of the 2^nd leg; tarsus of the 3^rd leg. The length of: pronotum; wing; femur; tibia and tarsus of the 1^st leg; femur and tibia of the 3^rd leg. On the other hand, the study of the wing parameters showed significant differences between the length and the width of the wings and the axis (Mcu-M2), (R2-Mcu). For males, significant differences between the length of the wings and the axis (R2-Mcu) were found.

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