Record of Downsiomyia albolateralis (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae) from the Himalayan Plains of West Bengal

Abstract

The present study was carried out with the aim to characterize a mosquito species that was documented near about a century ago from Darjeeling district of northern West Bengal, India. Mosquito larvae were collected from the bamboo stumps or holes of sub-Himalayan plains of Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India. Collected immatures were reared upto adults maintaining standard protocol. Larva and adult specimens were investigated for morphological identifications upto generic and species level. In the present study, the Niveus species Downsiomyia albolateralis (Theobald, 1908) is a newer addition to the mosquito fauna in the region and it will update the mosquito checklist for the knowledge of vector and non-vector species.