Age Grouping of Female Anopheles Farauti Populations (Diptera: Culicidae) in Papua New Guinea

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Abstract
A method of age-grading Anopheles farauti populations by examination of the intact ovary is proposed. The method is based on the fact that (I) the ovariole increases in length with successive ovulations, each follicular tube progressively occupying more space within the ovary, and (2) as contraction of the sac and resolution of follicular debris proceeds, the granular residue becomes compacted. Three stages in this process may be recognized. Immediately and for 5-6 h after ovulation, the follicular debris of the recently emptied follicle appears as a diffuse, coarse or fine, granulation. As contraction proceeds, component granules of the residual debris are brought closer together, tend to coalesce, and arc finally compacted into the small dense mass characteristic of the older dilatation. Recognition of the compacting/compacted masses and their relationship to each other within the intact ovary allowed separation of the parous category into young (1- and 2-parous) and old (3-parous and more) groups. In 90% of 4-parous and older females examined a light to heavy deposit of globules in the ovarian sheath was noted. The significance of the findings is discussed.

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