Bironella
Bironella is one of the three mosquito genera in the subfamily Anophelinae. Its species are found around New Guinea, from the Maluku Islands east to New Britain and south to northern Australia. The other two genera in the subfamily are Anopheles, which has a nearly worldwide distribution, and Chagasia, which is found in the Neotropics.
Description
Members of the genus Bironella resemble those of the genus Anopheles. They are described as "delicate insects" varying in colour from light to dark brown. Adults can be separated from Anopheles by the pattern of veins on their wings. Larvae are distinguished by the organization of hairs on their thorax.Distribution and habitat
Bironella is mainly found in the Papuan Subregion of Malesia, centred on New Guinea, although two species are also found in northern Australia. Bironella gracilis is the most widely distributed species, found from Ceram in the west to New Britain in the east. Larvae and pupae are usually found in habitats such as the margins of pools, slow-flowing streams and swamps. Adults have rarely been collected or seen in the wild, but may be captured in Malaise traps in undisturbed forest.Species
The genus Bironella comprises eight described species, which may be divided into three subgenera:- Subgenus Bironella Theobald, 1905
- *Bironella gracilis Theobald, 1905
- *Bironella simmondsi Tenorio, 1977
- Subgenus Brugella Edwards, 1930
- *Bironella hollandi Taylor, 1934
- *Bironella obscura Tenorio, 1975
- *Bironella travestita
- Subgenus Neobironella Tenorio, 1977
- *Bironella confusa Bonne-Wepster, 1951
- *Bironella papuae
- *Bironella derooki Soesilo & van Slooten, 1931, syn. ''Bironella soesiloi''