Single and co-breeding of different mosquito species in fogging-free and dengue risk areas in West Malaysia

@#Ovitrap surveillance was carried out in fifteen localities encompassing foggingfree and dengue risk areas in West Malaysia to determine on the dispersal and prevalence of single and co-breeding of mosquito larvae particularly Aedes. Ovitraps were sited randomly indoors and outdoors within human settlements in all study areas. All the localities exhibited positive ovitraps with single breeding of Ae. albopictus that ranged between 64.29% and 100.00%. These findings indicated Ae. albopictus as the predominant container-breeding species in all study areas. The co-breeding of Ae. aegypti with Ae. albopictus larvae (34 ovitraps), Ae. albopictus with Culex quinquefasciatus larvae (32 ovitraps) as well as Cx. quinquefasciatus with Armigeres subalbatus larvae (1 ovitrap) were also detected in certain study localities. Interestingly, co-breeding of Ae. albopictus with Ar. subalbatus larvae as well as Ae. albopictus with Uranotaenia sp. larvae in Malaysia is reported for the first time in the present study. Better understanding of the co-breeding scenario involving different species of mosquito larvae is needed to ensure the efficacy of vector control actions to be conducted.

Biting behaviour of medically important mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Peninsular Malaysia

Human-landing catch (HLC) technique was undertaken in nine selected study sites within Peninsular Malaysia to determine the biting cycle of Aedes, Armigeres, Culex, and Mansonia mosquitoes. HLC was conducted 24 hours on three different nights in a duration of one week at each study site. Aedes albopictus were found in all study sites with bimodal biting cycle, whereas the biting peak of Aedes butleri was recorded between 1600 and 1900 hr. For Armigeres, five study sites demonstrated similar biting peak hour (1900 – 2000 hr) for Ar. kesseli four study sites showed biting peak at 1800 – 1900 hr for Ar. subalbatus. Culex quinquefasciatus was collected from all study sites except in Sungai Penchala with its biting activity beginning from 1900 hr. Both Mansonia annulifera and Mansonia uniformis captured in two different study sites showed similar biting peaks (1500 – 1600 hr). It is recommended that vector control activities be carried out at dusk as almost all mosquito species captured started their biting activities at that time.