[The presence and vector role of Culex bitaeniorhynchus in New Caledonia]

Culex bitaeniorhynchus, reported from New Caledonia after a single collection of larvae in Noumea in 1952, has been found in two other localities, on the south-west and on the north-east coasts. The morphological features show some differences between the local population and the forms from the Oriental Region. Adults have been caught during the hot and rainy season, by light traps mainly. The females have been very rarely collected on human bait. Though found naturally infected by dengue 4 virus, that species is not likely to have an epidemiological importance in New Caledonia. It seems doubtful that it has been imported recently.