TYPICAL BREEDING AND RESTING PLACES 
OF 
ANOPHELES PUNCTULATUS MOLUCCENSIS 
IN THE 
SOUTH PACIFIC 
Prepared by 
Malaria and Epidemic Disease Control 
South Pacific Area 
April, 1944 As a visual aid in the instruction of personnel in 
Malaria Control this manual is designed to illustrate the 
typical breeding and resting places of the important mal- 
aria vector in the South Pacific Area. 
The information in this manual is not to be communi- 
cated either directly or indirectly to the press, nor to any 
person not in the Armed Forces (Allied). 
WJ.P. Dry season breeding places for moluccensis in the New 
Hebrides-Solomons area consists primarily of rivers, streams, 
springs, seepage areas, ponds, taro gardens, swamps, and oc- 
casional open wells located near native plantations. 
During the rainy season, breeding may occur in almost 
all the additional water collections which form. At this time 
larvae may be found in all types of natural and man-made pud- 
dles, such as ruts, foxholes, bases of uprooted trees, borrow 
pits, poorly graded ditches and in such places as hog wallows 
and in the coral above high tide mark. Rather commonly too, 
larvae will be discovered in such artificial containers as large 
tin cans, open gasoline drums, watering troughs, tubs and oc- 
casionally in beached boats. The water in all of the above men- 
tioned types of wet season breeding places may be clear, turbid, 
somewhat stagnant, brackish, or pure rain water; and there may 
or may not be water plants present. In almost all cases, breed- 
ing in extensive water areas is associated with flotage or emer- 
gent materials. However, in small confined places such as 
pools, puddles and road ruts, larvae will commonly be found on 
the open surface. This site is a classical example of “man 
made” malaria in the South Pacific. As long 
as the jungle areas remain undisturbed, mo- 
luccensis will rarely be found. 
Figure 2. ROAD RUTS. 
Hoof prints and tracks made by cattle, 
hogs and horses which roam throughout the 
native plantations and jungle areas produce 
moluccensis in large numbers. 
Figure 1. HOOF PRINTS. Figure 4. STREAMS WITH EMERGENT VEGETATION. 
Along these typical jungle streams, natives fre- 
quently plant water-cress for food, and it is among such 
vegetation that moluccensis can frequently be found. The 
association of moluccensis larvae with water plants 
leads one to believe that sunlight is necessary for larval 
development. With rare exceptions this is usually the 
rule. 
Stream margins with collected bits 
of debris, logs, fallen branches and 
leaves provide effective protection for 
larvae along stream margins. 
Figure 3. STREAMS. Figure 6. RIVER MARGINS WITH ALGAL GROWTH. 
Anopheline larvae are found in large numbers 
along river margins among algal mats. This is par- 
ticularly true in the dry season when the stream is 
not subject to fluctuation. 
Similar to situations encountered in 
stream breeding, moluccensis finds ade- 
quate protection along the river margins 
among collected bits of leaves, twigs and 
flotage. 
Figure 5. RIVER MARGINS. Figure 8. FLOATING ALGAL MAT IN MID-STREAM. 
Among these mats, where the water is unaffected 
by currents and winds, collections of moluccensis can 
easily be made. When the stream is subject to ex- 
treme fluctuations, especially during the rainy season, 
these mats are of no importance for they are usually 
washed free during the first floods. 
Figure 7. CLOSE UP OF ALGAL MATS. 
Anopheline larvae are found in the 
interstices of the algal mats, and also are 
taken by running the dipper along the mar- 
gins or gently skimming the mat surface. Trailing vines and roots provide an- 
chorage for algae and other detritus, 
which results in the formation of ideal 
breeding sites in rivers and occasionally 
in large streams. 
Figure 10. ANCHORED MATS. 
Algal mats supporting growths of 
water-cress soon lend themselves to 
efficient protection for anopheline 
larvae against aquatic enemies, wind 
and currents. 
Figure 9. ALGAL MATS. These occur quite frequently throughout 
all of the South Pacific Islands, wherever 
man has established campsites or has merely 
“borrowed” coral for road construction. 
They soon become permanent water catch- 
ments and, with an accumulation of coconut 
fronds and debris, provide breeding areas for 
moluccensis. 
Figure 12. BORROW PITS. 
Figure 11. SEEPAGE AREAS AND SPRINGS. 
The topography of the islands of the 
Solomons group lends itself well to the breed- 
ing of anophelines in such springs and seepage 
pits.  eventually become favorite breeding 
places for the sun-loving moluccensis. 
Figure 14. CORAL PITS. 
Throughout all of the islands of the 
New Hebrides-Solomons group, roads 
are primarily surfaced with coral dug 
from such pits as those illustrated in 
figures 12, 13 and 14. Usually no out- 
let for drainage is provided, and with 
continued rains, such sites 
Figure 13. CORAL PITS. Where no drainage ditches are constructed 
along the coral roads, roadside pools become 
ideal breeding spots. Under such conditions, 
in these confined places, larvae will commonly 
be found along the margins and upon the open 
water surface in large numbers. 
Figure 16. ROADSIDE POOLS. 
In many instances roads are constructed 
from coral dug along either side. In such 
instances, these improperly graded “ditches” 
provide ideal breeding sites. Larvae are 
commonly found on the open surface. Miles of 
such ditches have warranted the use of power- 
driven sprayers throughout all the South Pa- 
cific. 
Figure 15. ROADSIDE DITCHES. In instances where dirt and debris 
have collected to form a mud bottom, 
anopheline larvae are frequently taken 
in such artificial containers. They have 
been taken readily in wooden Japanese 
tubs found commonly at Munda, Kolom- 
bangara and other islands once occupied 
by these forces. 
Figure 18. OPEN OIL DRUMS. 
Ponds supporting plant growth such 
as lodged mats of Lemma, algae, and 
other vegetation provide ideal spots for 
anophelines. 
Figure 17. PONDS. Figure 20. OPEN FOX HOLES AND SLIT TRENCHES 
During the rainy season such man-made breeding 
sites are ideal for anopheline production. In areas 
where these are no longer being used, they soon be- 
come partially covered with plant growth and may be 
overlooked in survey work. 
In areas where there still is a promis- 
cuous dumping of oil drums, collections of 
water within the rims will support anophe- 
line breeding. This site is a favorite place 
for the breeding of pest mosquitoes. In fuel 
dumps where coral roads have not been laid, 
miles of road ruts running throughout the 
jungle and coconut groves soon become pro- 
lific breeding places of moluccensis. 
Figure 19. UPRIGHT OIL DRUMS. In carelessly laid “tarps” (which are 
used very frequently in the South Pacific) 
or in abandoned campsites where the can- 
vas tents have fallen down, anophelines are 
rarely taken. However, here again, pest 
mosquitoes thrive under such conditions. 
Figure 22. TARPAULINS. 
Carelessly rigged tents will provide 
excellent sites for culicines, especially 
Aedes scutellaris subsp., which are very 
common in this area. Anophelines have 
never been taken under such conditions. 
Figure 21. TENT FLAPS. Figure 24. AXILS OF THE SAGO PALM. 
Anopheline larvae are never taken in 
such sites. Although each axil will hold as 
much as a quart of water, no anophelines 
have been recorded to date. This spot again 
is a favorite haunt of pest mosquitoes. 
Anopheline larvae are practically never 
taken in such artificial containers. Rare 
ones have been taken and reported from Guad- 
alcanal and Espiritu Santo, especially during 
periods of heavy rains. 
Figure 23. TIN CANS. Anopheline larvae are never taken in 
the axils of these trees, although several 
species of Aedes have been taken from the 
water collected in the axils. These trees 
are especially abundant along the seacoast, 
and consequently the axils collect much 
water from rain, mist and ocean spray. 
Figure 26. PANDANUS TREES. 
Anopheline larvae are never taken in such 
sites, although these pods will hold enough 
water to support scutellaris breeding. 
Figure 25. RAT GNAWED CACAO PODS.  few species of culicine mosquitoes 
have been taken under such conditions. 
Figure 28. TARO PLANT. 
Anopheline larvae are never taken here 
or in the axils of the taro plant illustrated in 
figure 28. Absence of breeding may be due to 
the confinement factor co-incident with ovi- 
position. A 
Figure 27. AXILS OF THE BANANA TREE. Figure 30. WATER HELD IN THE FOLDS OF 
FELLED TREES. 
large numbers of pest mosquitoes. 
Anopheline larvae are rarely ever 
taken in tree holes. An occasional one 
has been reported from Guadalcanal and 
Espiritu Santo. Their absence here may 
be due to high concentrations of decayed 
organic matter. Such tree holes, and 
pockets formed by folds in the trunks of 
trees, produce 
Figure 29. TREE HOLES. Open water surfaces are constantly 
moving and fluctuating and, unobstructed, 
hardly ever produce anopheline larvae. 
This is particularly true during the rainy 
season when such bodies of water are sub- 
ject to heavy flooding. 
Figure 32. OPEN RIVER SURFACES. 
Anopheline larvae are rarely taken in 
halved coconut shells. The absence of breed- 
ing here may be due to the high content of 
such organic compounds as dissolved tannins, 
vegetable oils, etc. However, during periods 
of frequent rains, coconut shell halves may 
support anopheline breeding since they flush 
frequently, maintaining relatively pure water. 
Figure 31. HALVED COCONUT SHELLS. Resting blooded females may be collected at will in houses 
and native huts, the sites selected being generally dark and 
somewhat secluded, such as in the folds of clothing and mos- 
quito nets; on the under surfaces of furniture, rafters and hang- 
ing objects; and upon walls and low ceilings. This species read- 
ily enters any type of shelter in search of human blood, and con- 
sequently the native hut has proven the most effective spot for 
adult night catches in this area. 
The daytime resting places for males and unfed females 
apparently consist of nearly any cool, moist and shaded spot. 
Although the exact microclimatic specifications for the day- 
time resting places of adults are still quite unknown, some 
observations are available upon the subject. 
DAYTIME RESTING PLACES OF ADULTS Occasionally taken in these cool, dark, 
protected sites. This is a favorite collec- 
ting place for Anopheles punctulatus punctu- 
latus in certain areas on Guadalcanal, where 
the adults are found resting in large numbers 
one half to three feet from the water surface. 
Figure 34. TREE BUTTRESSES. 
This is the only reliable type of resting 
place yet discovered for moluccensis. Bed 
nets of personnel sleeping near breeding sites 
have been used to good advantage when making 
night catches. 
Figure 33. NATIVE HUTS. Deep open wells, that are protected 
from the heat of the day, frequently har- 
bour adult anophelines. These native 
wells also may be the only source of ano- 
pheline breeding, particularly around 
native villages; consequently such sites 
should be checked carefully. 
Figure 36. OPEN NATIVE WELLS. 
When these containers are well pro- 
tected by overhead vegetation, they pro- 
vide efficient temporary resting places 
for moluccensis. 
Figure 35. SUNKEN OIL DRUMS.