Some 1,88 1 Aedes aegypti (L.) progeny were reared as sibling samples taken
from 196 families representing populations from 18 localities in South Africa, including
anthropophilic and non-anthropophilic populations. The number of white scales on tergite I
(T1) and in the basal band on tergite II (T2) were counted. Study of family samples showed
that 60.2% of families were heterogeneous, containing both the type and formosus forms.
Hence the division into nominate (type) and formosus subspecies is considered invalid.
Multivariate statistical analysis of variance in the population samples in respect of T, and T2
together showed that each population was significantly different from all the others. However,
statistical analysis of T1 and T2 alone showed that although some populations differed
significantly, there was no consistent difference between anthropophilic and non-anthropophilic
populations. It is concluded that in South Africa Ae. aegypti is a single polymorphic
species displaying plasticity in its man-biting behavior.