Abundance Of Mosquito Larvae Research Articles

LarvaeCountAI: a robust convolutional neural network-based tool for accurately counting the larvae of Culex annulirostris mosquitoes.

Accurate counting of mosquito larval populations is essential for maintaining optimal conditions and population control within rearing facilities, assessing disease transmission risks, and implementing effective vector control measures. While existing methods for counting mosquito larvae have faced challenges such as the impact on larval mortality rate, multiple parameters adjustment and limitations in availability and affordability, recent advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly in AI-driven visual analysis, hold promise for addressing these issues. Here, we introduce LarvaeCountAI, an open-source convolutional neural network (CNN)-based tool designed to automatically count Culex annulirostris mosquito larvae from videos captured in laboratory environments. LarvaeCountAI does not require videos to be recorded using an advanced setup; it can count larvae with high accuracy from videos captured using a simple setup mainly consisting of a camera and commonly used plastic trays. Using the videos enables LarvaeCountAI to capitalise on the continuous movement of larvae, enhancing the likelihood of accurately counting a greater number of larvae. LarvaeCountAI adopts a non-invasive approach, where larvae are simply placed in trays and imaged, minimising any potential impact on larval mortality. This approach addresses the limitations associated with previous methods involving mechanical machines, which often increase the risk of larval mortality as larvae pass through multiple sections for counting purposes. The performance of LarvaeCountAI was tested using 10 video samples. Validation results demonstrated the excellent performance of LarvaeCountAI, with an accuracy ranging from 96.25% to 99.13% across 10 test videos and an average accuracy of 97.88%. LarvaeCountAI represents a remarkable advancement in mosquito surveillance technology, offering a robust and efficient solution for monitoring larval populations. LarvaeCountAI can contribute to developing effective strategies for reducing disease transmission and safeguarding public health by providing timely and accurate data on mosquito larvae abundance.

Ecological Factors Affecting Diversity and Abundance of Mosquito Larvae in Nile Delta, Egypt

Ecological Factors Affecting Diversity and Abundance of Mosquito Larvae in Nile Delta, Egypt

Diversity and Distribution of Culicidian Fauna in Urban and Rural Areas of Setif Region (North-East Algeria).

Objective: The study explored larval mosquito breeding sites in urban and rural areas from March 2021 to February 2022 in the North-East region of Algeria to provide information on larval biology and ecology of different mosquito species. Methodology: It focused on the effect of the physicochemical characteristics of the breeding sites (pH and water temperature), area, and months on the larval mosquito abundance. Diversity index and equitability were calculated for the registered mosquito species in both areas. Results: Months significantly affected the larval mosquito abundances, with a clear abundance increase from March to August 2021, and then, a clear decrease to February 2022. The interactions between rural and urban areas, water pH, and water temperature as well affected the mosquito abundance. Twelve species of Culicidae were identified and distributed in three genera: Culex, Culiseta, and Aedes. Culex pipiens was the most dominant species in rural and urban sites, with a rate of 69% and 48%, respectively. In rural site, Aedes caspius and Aedes vexans occupied the second position with value of 7-8% each. In urban sites, the second position was occupied by Culiseta longiareolata (36%) and then by Culex theileri (10%). In terms of site diversity, only one site was highly diversified in rural sites, El Hchichia (H' = 1.12 bits). In urban sites, Setif Center, Guellel an Ain Trick, had almost similar diversity with values between 1.03 and 1.04 bits. Equitability values were 0.48 in rural sites and 0.55 in urban sites. Therefore, the Culicidae species presented in these study sites are moderately balanced. Conclusion: The present study provides key tools for planning a better vector control through the information on the effect of some factors on the proliferation of mosquitoes in the urban and rural sites of the Setif region and on the Culicidae diversity and abundance.

Species composition of larval mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in bamboo stumps in mid-western Nepal

ABSTRACT Bamboo stumps serve as important phytotelmata in which mosquitoes breed. The physiochemical parameters of water in the bamboo stumps influence the species composition and larval abundance of mosquito species. Bamboo stumps were scanned in monsoon season of 2022 by adopting a larval survey method in mid-western Nepal. Supplementary data such as water volume, temperature and pH were also recorded. The linear relationship between different physiochemical parameters with mosquito larval population and larval abundance of different mosquito species was analysed in RStudio-1.0.44 and Past software version 4.07. Altogether, 120 larval mosquitoes belonging to 7 species and 3 genera were recorded from 26 bamboo stumps. The larval abundance of immature mosquito shows positive correlation with water temperature, pH and volume of the water. The coexistence of larvae of dengue vectors (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) and vector of Lymphatic Filariasis (Culex quinquefasciatus) as well the coexistence of different larval mosquito species were recorded. This established bamboo stumps as important mosquito breeding habitats including vector species in mid-western Nepal.

Seasonal Diversity in Mosquito Larval Ecology and Its Public Health Implications in Urban Slums of Lagos, Nigeria.

Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) are major public health burdens in tropical nations, including Nigeria. This study assessed mosquito larval species composition, abundance, and abiotic factors influencing mosquito breeding in slum communities of Lagos with the goal of informing MBD control measures. Three slum communities-Bariga, Makoko, and Ajegunle-were selected along with the nonslum community of Ikeja, which served as a control site. Larval sampling was done using the standard dipping technique between December 2021 and July 2022 across the dry and wet seasons. Mosquito larvae were raised to adults and identified using morphological keys and molecular assays. A total of 57,753 immature mosquitoes were collected from all study sites, with a significantly (P < 0.05) greater abundance in the dry season than the wet season. The majority (98.1%) of the mosquitoes collected belonged to Culex pipiens s.l., the only species found during the dry season in almost all locations. In the wet season, species identified from all sites combined were Anopheles gambiae ss., Anopheles arabiensis, Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Cx. pipiens s.l., and Lutzia tigripes, with Ajegunle having the greatest species diversity (H = 0.593). Among physicochemical parameters measured, only water temperature had a significant positive correlation (r = 0.934, P = 0.020) with larval densities in Ajegunle only. Permanent mosquito-breeding habitats had significantly greater larval densities than temporary habitats within the slum communities. These findings could inform the development of integrated vector control strategies that address the different species of mosquitoes in the fight against MBDs in urban slums.

Warming and top-down control of stage-structured prey: Linking theory to patterns in natural systems.

Warming has broad and often nonlinear impacts on organismal physiology and traits, allowing it to impact species interactions like predation through a variety of pathways that may be difficult to predict. Predictions are commonly based on short-term experiments and models, and these studies often yield conflicting results depending on the environmental context, spatiotemporal scale, and the predator and prey species considered. Thus, the accuracy of predicted changes in interaction strength, and their importance to the broader ecosystems they take place in, remain unclear. Here, we attempted to link one such set of predictions generated using theory, modeling, and controlled experiments to patterns in the natural abundance of prey across a broad thermal gradient. To do so, we first predicted how warming would impact a stage-structured predator-prey interaction in riverine rock pools between Pantala spp. dragonfly nymph predators and Aedes atropalpus mosquito larval prey. We then described temperature variation across a set of hundreds of riverine rock pools (n = 775) and leveraged this natural gradient to look for evidence for or against our model's predictions. Our model's predictions suggested that warming should weaken predator control of mosquito larval prey by accelerating their development and shrinking the window of time during which aquatic dragonfly nymphs could consume them. This was consistent with data collected in rock pool ecosystems, where the negative effects of dragonfly nymph predators on mosquito larval abundance were weaker in warmer pools. Our findings provide additional evidence to substantiate our model-derived predictions while emphasizing the importance of assessing similar predictions using natural gradients of temperature whenever possible.

Anopheles larval habitats seasonality and environmental factors affecting larval abundance and distribution in Arjo-Didessa sugar cane plantation, Ethiopia

BackgroundWater resource development projects are essential for increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring food security. However, these activities require the modification of pre-existing environmental settings, which may alter mosquito larval habitat availability and seasonality. The intensive utilization of current adult vector control tools results in insecticide resistance among the main vectors. When coupled with behavioural resistances, a shift in malaria vector feeding and resting behaviours could compromise the effectiveness of the current adult vector control strategies. Thus, it is important to look for new or alternative vector control interventions for immatures to complement adult control by focusing on different larval habitats and their seasonal availability. Thus, this study investigated larval habitat seasonality and seasonal larval abundance and distribution in irrigated sugar cane plantation settings in Ethiopia.MethodsAnopheles mosquito larval habitats were surveyed and visited twice a month for a period of 14 months. Anopheline larvae and pupae were collected, reared, and fed finely ground fish food. Adults were provided with sucrose solution and kept under standard conditions. Female Anopheles mosquitoes were identified morphologically and using a species-specific PCR assay. Environmental parameters, which include habitats’ physico-chemical characteristics, were assessed. Larval habitat diversity and larval abundance and distribution were determined across different seasons.ResultsThe study revealed that Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) was the most predominant 4197(57%) vector species, followed by Anopheles coustani complex 2388 (32.8%). Molecular analysis of sub-samples of An. gambiae s.l. resulted in Anopheles arabiensis (77.9%) and Anopheles amharicus (21.5%), and the remaining 1.1% (n = 7) sub-samples were not amplified. Physico-chemical parameters such as temperature (t = 2.22, p = 0.028), conductivity (t = 3.21, p = 0.002), dissolved oxygen (t = 7.96, p = 0.001), nitrate ion (t = 2.51, p = 0.013), and ammonium ion (t = 2.26, p = 0.025) showed a significant and direct association with mosquito larval abundance. Furthermore, mosquito larval abundance was correlated with distance to the nearest houses (r = − 0.42, p = 0.001), exposure to sunlight (r = 0.34, p = 0.001), during long and short rainy season animal hoof prints, truck tires/road puddles and rain pools were negatively correlated (r = − 0.22, p = 0.01) and types of habitat (r = − 0.20, p = 0.01). Significant habitat type productivity were observed in man-made pools (t = 3.881, P = 0.01163), rain pools, animal hoof prints, (t = − 4.332, P = 0.00749 in both short and long rainy season, whereas, during dry seasons habitat type productivity almost similar and have no significance difference.ConclusionThe study found that different larval habitats had variable productivity in different seasons, and that physical and physicochemical features like ammonium and nitrate, as well as the distance between larval habitats and households, are related to larval production. As a result, vector control should take into account the seasonality of Anopheles larval habitat as well as the impact of pesticide application on larval source management.

Amphibian abundance is associated with reduced mosquito presence in human‐modified landscapes

AbstractThe impacts of landscape anthropization on mosquito abundance and diversity are already well studied, but the underlying ecological factors behind these effects are still poorly understood. One such underlying ecological factor may be related to the loss of amphibians in human‐modified landscapes, providing ideal habitats for several mosquito species. In this study, we conducted a mosquito and amphibian larvae survey in 77 ponds along a gradient of landscape anthropization in western Switzerland. We used structural equation models to investigate the direct and indirect effects of building footprints and several local pond parameters on mosquito abundance and composition through amphibian abundance. We highlighted that landscape anthropization increases the presence probability of mosquito larvae and the proportion ofCulex pipiensin mosquito communities. Our results also suggested that one of the ecological mechanisms underlying these effects is a reduction in amphibian abundance, limiting competition and predation experienced by mosquitoes in human‐modified landscapes. In addition, we showed that several local pond characteristics prevent the presence and abundance of mosquito larvae. Indeed, deep ponds, which promote amphibian abundance, limit the probability of larval mosquito presence, and large and old ponds have a lower larval mosquito abundance. Amphibians appear to be effective control agents of natural mosquito populations. Therefore, the development of measures to protect amphibians in human‐modified landscapes could help to reduce both mosquito‐related nuisances and the risk of emergence of vector‐borne diseases in humans and wildlife.

STUDY OF SOME PHYSICOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS ON THE ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MOSQUITO LARVAE IN RIVER ANTAU, KEFFI, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Aquatic life is influenced by physicochemical parameters which enabled organisms to develop different adaptations that may improve and sustain the productivity of the ecosystem. Changes in the water quality may affect biotic community structure with the most vulnerable species dying while the most sensitive ones act as bio- indicators of environmental health. This paper assessed some physicochemical parameters on the abundance and distribution of mosquito larvae in River Antau conducted between April and July, 2021. The samples were collected from three selected points (A, B and C) monthly using dipper and larvae bowl and transported to the Entomology and Insectary Laboratory for analysis. Temperature, pH and DO across the sampling points were equally analyzed. A total of one thousand and three (1003) mosquito larvae including Anopheles sp 562(56.0%) and Culex sp 441(44.0%) were collected. The results showed that the highest number of Anopheles sp 386(68.7%) were recorded in May and the lowest 34(6.1%) in June, while the highest number of Culex sp152 (34.5%) were encountered in April and the lowest 40 (9.1%) occurred in the month of July. Physicochemical parameters were found to influence the distribution and abundance of mosquito larvae in River Antau. This study recommends for public health awareness on the mosquito’s management and control to reduce transmission of malaria in the area

Assessment of mosquito larval habitats, species abundance and diversity in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria

The study investigated the abundance and diversity of mosquito species larvae in different larval breeding habitats of Azare, Katagum L.G.A., Bauchi State, Nigeria. The selected habitats were surveyed weekly between August and October, 2021 across ten communities. A total of 2,320 mosquito larvae of different instars were collected and reared to adults in which 1,624 successfully emerged as adults comprising of three genera namely: Anopheles 464 (20%), Culex 928 (40.00%) and Aedes 232 (10%). A total of four (4) species were identified; two (2) of which were Anopheles spp. (An. gambiae and An. arabiensis), one (1) Culex spp. (Cx. quinquefasciatus), one (1) Aedes spp. (Ae. aegypti); while the numbers of unidentified individuals for Culex and Aedes genera down to species level were one (1) species for each respectively. The results of this study found high species abundance and relatively low diversity but a high larval breeding index. There was no significant difference (p &gt; 0.05) in larval abundance among the three groups. Most interestingly, the study found out that mosquitoes’ larvae co-habit together in relation to the breeding habitats sampled across the study area. The results of this study signify high transmission risk of mosquitoes-borne diseases in the area. Thus, control interventions, to reduce malaria burdens and other arboviruses, in the city should be broadened to target the breeding sites of mosquitoes by implementing a larviciding strategy especially during the wet season is presumably the most cost-effective strategy to consider.

Effect of ecological factors and breeding habitat types on Culicine larvae occurrence and abundance in residential areas Southern Thailand

Mosquitoes are a vector of human disease transmitting malaria, and many arboviruses such as dengue virus and Zika virus. This study determined mosquito larval occurrence and abundance in residential areas around Suratthani Rajabhat University as influenced by ecological factors and breeding container diversity. Mosquito larvae were collected using a standard dipping method from 95 locations during April through September 2019 and environmental factors such as physicochemical parameters of water in the breeding containers were measured. During the survey, a total of 194 houses were inspected, of which 58 were found to be infested with mosquito larvae, with a house index of 29.90, a container index of 25.55, and a Breteau index of 48.99. A total of 5,123 mosquito larvae were reported from seven breeding habitat types namely, plastics, cement, mud pots, glass, foam, discarded tires and natural materials. Among the collected larvae, Aedes albopictus (56.45%) was most prevalent, while Culex sp. (22.33%) and Aedes aegypti were less prevalent (21.21%). The most common mosquito larvae breeding habitats were plastics (44.22%) followed by discarded tires (18.14%). The spearman correlation analysis showed that the number of mosquito larvae were significantly positively correlated with the depths and width of containers (p<0.05). These findings are helpful in understanding the ecological factors and breeding habitat types that influence mosquito species and their abundance, and also in determining ways to control mosquito borne diseases.

The abundance of mosquito larvae in relation to associated microbiota and physicochemical parameters of marshland habitats in Kelaniya in Gampaha district of Sri Lanka

The abundance of mosquito larvae in relation to associated microbiota and physicochemical parameters of water in marshes from selected habitats in Kelaniya divisional secretariat area, of the Gampaha district, Sri Lanka were studied. Culex gelidus was found to be the dominant mosquito species found in marshes followed by Culex whitmorei, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex fuscocephala, and Anopheles peytoni. Fourteen species/taxa of microbiota were identified. There was a significant positive correlation between the abundance of Cx. gelidus larvae and level of organic pollution in marshes as measured by the five-day Biological Oxygen Demand. A positive correlation for the presence of Cx. fuscocephala and Cx. gelidus in the marshland was also observed. Nevertheless, abundance of Cx. gelidus was negatively correlated with Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. whitmorei. The presence of Culex gelidus and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus were positively correlated with Daphnia magna indicating their co-existence in the same habitat requirement. Culex gelidus was negatively affected by the epibiont, Vorticella microstoma, when the latter organisms were present in higher densities. In contrast, the presence of Cx. whitmorei was positively influenced by the Vorticella microstoma, Difflugia corona, nauplius larva, and Keratella valga. There was a negative correlation between Cx. whitmorei and Monostyla bulla (Rotifera; Monogononta) and between the abundance of Cx. fuscocephala and Lecane luna in the same marshland. This study concludes that mosquito larvae and some microbiota are interdependent in marshlands. The level of abundance of mosquito larvae and microbiota varied with the level of water pollution. Cx. gelidus larvae are biologically affected by Vorticella microstoma. Many microbiota species compete with mosquito larvae for the same food items.

Evaluation of Bacillus thuringiensis Subsp. Israelensis and Bacillus sphaericus Combination Against Culex pipiens in Highly Vegetated Ditches.

Among the few mosquito larvicides available in the market, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) and B. sphaericus (Bs) represent the most environmentally safe alternatives. The combination of the 2 products is known to overcome their specific limitations by producing a synergistic effect. The aim of the study was to assess the effect and persistence of a single treatment with a granular Bti + Bs formulation on highly vegetated ditches in northeastern Italy that represents the primary rural larval sites for Culex pipiens, the primary vector of the West Nile virus in Europe. The analysis takes into account the nonlinear temporal effects on the population dynamics of larvae and pupae. The results showed a dramatic reduction in mosquito larval abundance 24 h posttreatment (93%) and was effective against larvae up to 22 days (100%). The residual effect after 28 days was 99.5%, and a limited residual effect was observed after 39 days (31.2%). A reduction in pupal density was observed after 4 days (70%) and was >98% from days 14 to 28 posttreatment, persisting for up to 39 days (84% after 39 days). The results demonstrate the effective use of the Bti + Bs formulation against Cx. pipiens in vegetated ditches in rural areas. Our modeling framework provides a flexible statistical approach to predict the residual effect of the product over time, in order to plan a seasonal intervention scheme.

Studies of the Biological and Physicochemical Contents of Rock Pool Breeding Habitats of Mosquitoes: A Case Study of the University of Abuja Main Campus

Entomological surveys were conducted to determine the biological and physicochemical parameters influencing mosquito breeding in rock pools in University of Abuja Main Campus. A total of 4 study area were sampled for mosquito larvae using soup ladle dipper (0.105L). Three different species of mosquitoes where found during the survey which is Ae.aegypyi, Ae.vittatus, Cx. Ingrami. Ae.aegypti was found abundant in the four study sites. Biota and physicochemical (depth, temperature, pH, total dissolve solid, total suspended solid, turbidity, hardness, dissolve oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrate and alkalinity) parameters of the pools were determined. ANOVA showed that the abundance of mosquito larvae differed significantly with pH of each study area (p&lt;0.05). The abundance of mosquito larvae did not differ significantly with depth, surface area, total suspended solid, hardness and turbidity of the rock pools (p&gt;0.05). Epidemiologically, the mosquito species encountered are potential vectors of human and animal diseases, hence rock pools should be inspected to incriminate vectors and be incorporated in mosquito control strategies. Keywords: Mosquitoes: Rock Pool Habitat: Temperature: PH; Ae.aegypyi: Ae.vittatus: Cx Ingrami

Mapping mosquito larval densities and assessing area vulnerable to diseases transmission in Nile valley of Giza, Egypt

Diversity and abundance of mosquito larvae have significant impact on the dynamics of disease transmission. In the present study, remote sensing (RS) technology integrated with field survey and spatial analyses were utilized to map mosquito breeding habitats and assess areas vulnerable to disease transmission in the Nile Valley of Giza governorate. An entomological survey was carried out to 20 accessible breeding sites at the study area during the period 6th–9th December 2019. Mosquito larvae were collected and transferred to the laboratory for density calculation and species identifications. A calibrated Landsat OLI image was processed to produce Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Built-Up Index (NDBI), Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Normalized Difference Salinity Index (NDSI), and Land Surface Temperature (LST). Results revealed that Culex pipiens was the most dominant species in the study region with a total percentage of 95.04%. High density of mosquito larvae was characterized by NDVI 0.12 to 0.39, NDBI − 0.20 to 0.05, NDMI − 0.05 to 0.20, NDWI − 0.34 to − 0.10, NDSI − 0.39 to − 0.12, and LST 19.30 to 24.82 ℃ which represents the optimal conditions for mosquito breeding. It could be concluded that Giza region, particularly Agouza, Kerdasa, Dokki, Bulaq Dakror and Omrania, is highly affected by Cx. pipiens, with a high potentiality of filariasis disease transmission.

Assessment of mosquitoes larvae and their predatory aquatic insects in Taksebt Dam, Algeria

The present paper aims at evaluating the distribution pattern of Culicidae immature stages and the relationship with their potential insect predators in the Taksebt Dam, Algeria. The surveys in the temporary and permanent habitats of this dam using the dipping technique allowed us to identify 13 mosquito species belonging to four genera with a clear dominance of Cx. pipiens and Cx. perexiguus. Predators of mosquito larvae were abundant in permanent habitats with 11 families belonging to three orders: Hemiptera (57.7%), Odonata (28.5%) and Coleoptera (13.9%). Hemipteran predators were the most important and abundant with a dominance of the Naucoridae and Notonectidae families. All mosquito larvae abundance was negatively related with the Hemipteran species abundance, while the abundance of Odonata spp. showed a significant effect on Anopheles spp. abundance. The results are relevant for future research in conservation biological control of vector mosquitoes employing predatory insects.

Abundance of Mosquito Larvae at Jagannath University and Dhaka University Campus of Dhaka, Bangladesh

A year-round survey on the abundance of mosquito larvae was conducted at Jagannath University - and Dhaka University - Campus from October 2018 to September 2019. A number of total 4415 mosquito larvae were collected of which 3086 were identified as Culex and 1329 were Aedes. Only 3 species belonging to 2 genera were identified in this study. At Jagannath University campus, highest number of Culex larvae was recorded in the month of August which was 167 (10.9%) and the lowest number was recorded in February which was 66 (4.3%), on the other hand, highest number of Aedes larvae was recorded in the month of July which was 137 (23.8%) and the lowest number was found in December which was 9 (1.6%). At Dhaka University campus, the highest number of Culex larvae was found in the month of April, which was 179 (11.5%) and the lowest number was found in June, which was 66 (4.3%), on the other hand, the highest number of Aedes larvae was found in the month of June which was 200 (26.5%) and lowest number was found in February which was 8 (1.06%). This study could be helpful in launching larvicidal programs in a more cost-effective way at these two urban public universities of Dhaka city. Bangladesh J. Zool. 49 (2): 321-329, 2021

The Influence of the pH and Salinity of Water in Breeding Sites on the Occurrence and Community Composition of Immature Mosquitoes in the Green Belt of the City of São Paulo, Brazil

Simple SummaryImmature mosquitoes are found in natural and artificial aquatic habitats. Variations in physicochemical parameters of water, such as pH, salinity, conductivity, and total dissolved solids, in breeding habitats can influence larval occurrence and drive the proliferation of adult mosquitoes. Herein, we investigated the association between different values of physicochemical parameters in a variety of aquatic habitats and the occurrence and community composition of immature mosquito species in two environmentally protected areas in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The aquatic habitats surveyed included epiphytic and ground bromeliads, bamboo internodes, ponds, tree hollows, lakes, and artificial containers. Our results revealed a statistically significant relationship between species occurrence and the variables of pH and salinity. The type of aquatic habitat also had a significant influence on mosquito species distribution. Investigating the interactions between immature mosquitoes and the environment in which they develop is important to elucidate the factors driving their occurrence and abundance, and could also be an important tool in planning and implementing immature mosquito control practices.The physicochemical parameters of water, such as pH, salinity, conductivity, and total dissolved solids, can influence mosquito larval development, survival, and abundance. Therefore, it is important to elucidate how these factors influence mosquito occurrence. We hypothesized that the occurrence and community composition of immature mosquito species are driven not only by the availability of suitable aquatic habitats, but also by the physicochemical factors of these habitats. The primary objective of this study was therefore to investigate the influence of the physicochemical parameters of water in different types of aquatic habitats on the occurrence of mosquito species in two remnants of Atlantic Forest in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Collections of immature mosquitoes and assessment of the physicochemical characteristics of the water in the collection sites were carried out for twelve months. The variation in species composition and occurrence with the measured physicochemical parameters and the type of breeding site was assessed using constrained ordination methods. The results indicate that there was a statistically significant difference in species composition as a function of the different types of aquatic habitats, and that pH had an influence on species occurrence even when the variance explained by the type of aquatic habitat was removed from the analysis. There was a statistically significant association between mosquito species occurrence and pH and salinity, and the former had a significant influence on the mosquito species collected regardless of the type of aquatic habitat, showing that the pH of the breeding site water is an important factor in driving mosquito population dynamics and species distribution.

Mosquito Larval Abundance in Connected and Isolated Pools Beside a Stormwater Management Pond.

Twelve experimental pools (30 cm width × 30 cm depth) around a large stormwater management pond (SWMP) were used to test the hypothesis that small puddles of water similar to animal hoofprints or other irregularities support more abundant and diverse mosquito populations due to having fewer insect predators. Six of the 12 pools were connected to the SWMP by a deep channel (7 cm wide × 10 cm depth × 50 cm length). Mosquito larvae and potential predators were sampled weekly over 16 wk in the summer. More mosquito larvae were found in the isolated pools than in connected pools or in the pond itself (U = 5.5, z = 2.002, P = 0.045). The observed differences between isolated and connected pools are presented and results discussed in terms of SWMP design.

The environmental Risk Factors Significant to Anopheles Species Vector Mosquito Profusion, P.falciparum, P.vivax Parasite Development, and Malaria Transmission, Using Remote Sensing and Gis: Review Article

The prevalence of spatial distribution and the seasonal variation of malaria epidemics in India have beenmost significantly determined by the environmental variables including climate, landscape, and the manmade factors. The risk factors are acting as decisive factors on the development of Anopheles genusmosquitoes. The landscape environments (slope, altitude, land use / land covers), human settlementsproximity to permanent water bodies of mosquito breeding habitats (lake, pool, streams, rivers, tanks etc),agricultural wet rice cultivation land, land use dynamics, population density, urbanization, increase of manwater resource projects. The coefficient model of climate determinants (rainfall and temperature) with themosquito abundance are highly associated with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) valuederived from multispectral satellite data, and is useful in the assess the ground situation of Anophelinemalaria vector mosquito larval abundance 7 days in advance in the wet irrigation rice fields using remotelysensed data. The result of logistic regression model provides the spatial agreement between the observedand predicted values of larval index within buffer zones 2.5 KM around the trap location in the wetcultivation rice fields much appropriate for Anopheline vector mosquito breeding. However, transmissionof Plasmodium vivax requires a minimum average temperature 15.0°C and transmission by Plasmodiumfalciparum, requires a minimum average temperature of 19.0°C. The P.vivax vector requires 15 to 25 daysto complete the parasite development cycle within the temperature range between 15°C to 20°C, the relativehumidity for both species requires range between 55% to 80% and its life cycle may be completed within 6to 10 days, if the temperature range remains within 25°C to 30°C. Multivariate analysis could be predictedaccurately the relative abundance of malaria vectors breeding habitats suitability and epidemics. The malariacases in the endemic districts and the relative abundance of the malaria vectors are directly controlled by theclimate variables with &gt;85 % accuracy.