ABSTRACT
An ecological study on mosquito larval breeding habitats was conducted in Najran Region, Saudi Arabia during 2005-2006 to study the breeding habitats determinants for Anopheles mosquito in two ecological types [cities and villages]. The increased rate of developmental activities promotes man-made mosquito breeding habitats, which regulate Anopheles mosquito abundance or absence. The linear regression analysis revealed that An. gambiae s.L abundance or absence is regulated by the presence of natural water habitats, which has the highest rate [79%] in villages. Other ecological, biological and physiochemical predictors for Anopheles mosquito larvae abundance or absence in the two ecological types were discussed
Subject(s)
Anopheles/classification , Breeding/methods , Biota/geneticsABSTRACT
In this study, 2654 adults and mosquito larvae, which belong to 18 species and 4 genera, were collected: Aedes [2 spp.], Anopheles [7 spp.], Culex [8 spp.] and Culiseta [1sp.]. They were Aedes caspius, Ae. aegypti, Anopheies azaniae, An. d'thali, An. multicolor, An. rhodesienss, An. stephensi, An. Sub-pictus, An. turkhudi, Cuiex laticinctus, Cx. perexiguus, Cx. pipiens, Cx. quin-quefasciatus, Cx. simpsoni, Cx. theileri, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Cx. univittatus and Culiseta ion giareolata. A total of 2270 mosquito larvae were collected, and Culex spp. were the most abundant, where 1629 [71.76%] larvae were collected, followed by 499 [21.98%] Anopheles spp., 94 [4.14%] Aedes spp. and 48 [2.12%] Culiseta longiareolata. Of, 384 adult mosquitoes collected Culex spp. were the most abundant and 328 [85.42%] were collected, followed by 22 [5.73%] Aedes spp., 19 [4.94%] Anopheles spp. and 15 [3.91%] Culiseta longiareolata. The physical properties of the water in the breeding sites of mosquito larvae showed that pH of water varied between 6.9 and 9.9, the total dissolved salts [TDS] varied between 378-9504 ppm and water temperature varied between 8.7°C in winter to 29.9°C in summer. There was no correlation between pH and TDS of water in breeding site and distribution of larvae. The population density started to increase in March, with a peak in August when temperature was 36°C. The activity started to decrease in October, and minimum activity was in January, when temperature was below 5°C. The seasonal abundance of adult mosquitoes was not affected by rainfall. A. aegypti, vector of Dengue fever virus, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, vector of Rift Valley fever and Cx. univittatus, vector of sindbis virus were reported for the first time in Al Madinah Al Munawwrah Region. These vectors constituted a major health problem, and every effort should be made for feasible control
Subject(s)
Seasons , LarvaABSTRACT
From March 2004 to February 2006, a mosquito survey was conducted in Makka Al Mukarrama Region, in the western part of Saudi Arabia, and 19 species which belong to 4 genera, were collected: Aedes [2 species], Anopheles [8 species], Culex [8 species] and Culiseta [1 species]. The mosquitoes were Aedes caspius, Ae. aegypti, Anopheles d'thali, An. gambiae, An. multicolor, An. rhodesiensis, An. sergenti, An. stephensi, An. subpictus, An. turkhudi, Culex arbieeni, Cx. laticinctus, Cx. pipiens, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. sinaiticus, Cx. tigripes, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Cx. univittatus and Culiseta longiareolata. Cx. arbieeni was reported for the first time in Saudi Arabia from Al Taif District. The physical properties of water of mosquito's larval breeding sites showed the total dissolved salts [TDS] varied between 70-15552 ppm, pH ranged between 5.4-11.2 and water temperature varied between 15°C in winter to 40.7°C in summer. There was no correlation between these physical properties and the distribution of mosquito larvae. Light traps collected 1858 mosquitoes, and adult Culex were the most prevalent as 1658 [89.24%] were collected, followed by 121 [6.51%] Aedes, 68 [3.66%] Anopheles and 11 [0.59%] Culiseta. The effects of temperature and rainfall on seasonal abundance of mosquitoes in the study area are discussed