Describing Wing Shape among Culex Quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) Detected Positive and Negative for Filaria Using Relative Warp Analysis

Abstract

This study examined populations of Culex quinquefasciatus in filariasis-endemic communities of Misamis Oriental, Philippines. C. Quinquefasciatus, has been of interest to public health since it was identified as a vector of filariasis in the Philippines in 1995. In surveillance and control programs, problems in identification is encountered as it requires some specialized skill and a well preserved set of specimen which is sometimes difficult to acquire. It is for these reasons that alternative method of identification and discrimination of Culex individuals has been desired to resolve problems related with vector species diversification and identification. In this study, geometric morphometric approach was used to test the hypothesis that there exists some variation in the wing shape pattern of C. Quinquefasciatus identified as positive and negative of filaria based on the landmarks' position on the wings. To illustrate ordination of the shapes' consensus, the mean shape of the two populations was measured by a relative warp ordination plot using the software tpsRelw version 1.46. Results of the relative warp analysis showed significant variation between the two populations. The four extracted significant relative warps account for a total of 68.54% variation in wing geometry pattern. Variations were observed in the wing apex and base. These variations may have genetic basis or maybe mere reflections of phenotypic plasticity brought about by the changing environmental conditions. 