{{Short description|Species of mosquito}} {{Speciesbox | genus = Aedes | parent = Aedes (Albuginosus) | species = capensis | authority = Edwards 1924 | synonyms = *''Aedes'' (''Eccules'') ''capensis'' <small>Edwards, 1924</small> * ''Albuginosus capensis'' <small>(Edwards, 1924)</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Edwards |first1=F. W. |title=Some mosquitoes from Ovamboland, S. W. Africa, and from the Cape Province |journal=Annals of the South African Museum |date=1924 |volume=19 |issue=1 |page=162 |url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40677677}}</ref> }}
'''''Aedes capensis''''' is a species of mosquito primarily found in forests in sub-Saharan Africa.
==Classification== ''Aedes capensis'' is one of 9 species in the subgenus ''Albuginosus'', which is only present in Africa.<ref>"Reinert JF. 1986. Albuginosus, A new subgenus of Aedes Meigen (Diptera: Culicidae) described from the Afrotropical Region. Mosquito Systematics 18 (3,4): 307-326"</ref>
==Distribution== ''Aedes capensis'' has been recorded from South Africa, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda.<ref>"White GB. 1980. Family Culicidae. In Catalogue of the Diptera of the Afrotropical Region. Ed. Crosskey RW. British Museum (Natural History), London."</ref>
==Biology==
The larvae of ''Ae. capensis'' are primarily found in tree-holes.<ref name ="muspratt">"Muspratt J. 1953, Research on common South African Culicini. II. Taxonomy relating to eight species of ''Aedes''. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa. 16(2): 83-93."</ref> They have also been collected from banana axils <ref name="cordellier">"Cordellier R, Geoffroy B. 1974. Contribution a l'etude des culicides de la Republique Centrafricaine. Rythmes d'activites en secteur preforestier. Cah. ORSTOM, ser. Ent. med. et Parasitol. 12(1): 19-48."</ref> and rock holes.<ref name="Garnham">"Garnham PCC, Harper JO, Highton RB. 1946. The mosquitos of the Kaimosi forest, Kenya Colony, with special reference to yellow fever. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 36(4): 473-496."</ref> The eggs have been collected in bamboo pots (ovitraps).<ref name="Garnham" /><ref name="Kemp">"Kemp A, Jupp PG. 1991. Potential for dengue in South Africa: Mosquito ecology with particular reference to ''Aedes aegypti''. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 7(4): 574-583."</ref>
Adults are rarely collected in human landing catches.<ref name="muspratt"/><ref name="Garnham" /><ref name="Haddow">"Haddow AJ. 1960. Studies on the biting habits and medical importance of East african mosquitoes of the genus ''Aedes''. I. Subgenera ''Aedimorphus'', ''Banksinella'', and ''Dunnius''. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 50:759-779.</ref> In human landing catches in Kenya, ''Ae. capensis'' were only collected in forest habitats, not in peridomestic or domestic settings.<ref name="Ellis">"Ellis BR, Wesson DM, Sang RC. 2007. Spatiotemporal distribution of diurnal yellow fever vectors (Diptera: Culicidae) at two sylvan interfaces in Kenya, East Africa. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. 7(2): 129-142."</ref>
==Medical importance== As it seems ''A. capensis'' do not commonly bite humans, it is unlikely that they are important in transmitting diseases to humans. However, the bloodfeeding habits of this species should be investigated further to see if it plays a role in the maintenance of zoonosis.
==References== {{Reflist}}
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capensis Category:Insects described in 1924