Forcipomyia taiwana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Forcipomyia taiwana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Forcipomyia taiwana | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Ceratopogonidae |
| Genus: | Forcipomyia |
| Species: | F. taiwana |
| Binomial name | |
| Forcipomyia taiwana (Tokuichi Shiraki, 1913) | |
Forcipomyia taiwana, commonly known as "little black mosquito", is a species of biting midge of the genus Forcipomyia, found in Taiwan and China.[1] It mainly sucks human blood, particularly from extremities such as ankles, lower legs, and elbows. Its bite causes the surrounding skin to become red, swollen, and extremely itchy, and can also precipitate more extreme allergic reactions.[2]
Adult Forcipomyia taiwana are approximately 1.4 mm in length.[3] It has a black head and dark brown antennae, mouthparts, chest, and abdomen. Female F. taiwana have short, sparse hairs on their antennae.
The head of the first instar larvae is dark brown, while the body is light yellow and slightly transparent. The head of the mature larvae is dark brown, and the body is yellowish brown. The body length of a mature larva is about 2.7 mm. Larvae have hairs on the back of their chest and legs. The last two segments of the body each have a pair of horns-shaped protrusions with the tips facing backward. The pupa of F. taiwana is about 2 mm long. The newly formed pupa is light brown and turns dark brown as the adult insect nears emergence.[citation needed]
Distribution
Forcipomyia taiwana was originally discovered in 1913 by Japanese entomologist Tokuichi Shiraki in Taichung County, Taiwan.[4] Between 1990 and 1991, it was identified in 11 Taiwanese counties, except for Miaoli, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Taitung. By 2012, subsequent surveys had revealed its presence throughout the island.
Populations are typically found in moderately moist areas with abundant grass and bushes, such as parks, school grounds, and villages near foothills. It is mostly found at altitudes below 250m, though occurrences have been reported at up to 500m. The rarity of the species at higher altitudes means that high mountain ranges, many of which exist in Taiwan, serve as genetic barriers to F. taiwana populations, leading to considerable genetic differentiation between populations on different sides of the mountain ranges.[citation needed]