Go to: Medically Important Mosquitoes | Mosquito Lit | Mosquito ID Keys
Culicidae > Culicinae > Sabethini

Distribution
Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Cameroon, China, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam, Zaire
Distribution map

Synonyms
Grahamia Theobald 1909:23 (May). Haplotype: trichorostris Theobald.
Harpagomyia De Meijere 1909:165 (Dec.). Haplotype: splendens De Meijere.

Bionomics
Larvae occupy cavities, including the leaf axils of plants, tree-holes, and the water-filled nests of arboreal ants. Adults are active during the daytime. Their feeding habits are unique among mosquitoes. They feed on the regurgitation of ants. To accomplish this the mosquito accosts an ant and brings the tip of the proboscis into contact with its mouth until a drop of liquid is produced. The regurgitate is rapidly sucked up and the ant goes away unharmed.

Important References >> 		habitus image Representative species shown here:
Malaya jacobsoni

Genus-specific Diagnostic Characters, Adult Stage:
To view detail images, click on character description below. Image will open in a separate window. (Pop-up windows must be enabled in your browser settings.)
1. Tip of proboscis distinctly swollen, upturned and hairy.

Recommended characters:
2. Lower mesepimeral setae absent,
3. Postspiracular setae absent.

Genus-specific Diagnostic Characters, Larval Stage >>

Medical Importance
Malaya are incapable of taking a blood meal, hence they are not of medical of economic importance.