Anophiline mosquitoes of Myanmar. 2: Anopheles (Cellia) minimus Theobald, 1901

ABSTRACT

Anopheles minimus together with Anopheles dirus consitute the primary vectors of malaria in Myanmar. The former has a wider distribution and occurs in higher densities with longer seasonal prevalence and is therefore considered to be the most important malaria vector in the country. Previous studies showed that An.minimus breeds in grassy edges of perennial hill streams, in slow running irrigation channels and terraced rice field while DMR teams, in addition, found it breeding in small puddles in stream beds together with An. maculatus. At Phado, An. minimus was found to constitute 26.2 per cent, 50.5 per cent and 44.1 per cent in monsoon, cool/dry hot/dry seasons respectively.Prevalence of An.minimus in relation to distance from forest was presented. Biting, resting behaviour and host preference studies were carried out and results presented. Man-biting rate and vectorial capicities in relation to rainfall for each month over a year are also presented.