The fauna, habitats, and affinity indices of mosquito larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) in Central Iran

Abstract

Malaria and West Nile virus infections are rampant to Isfahan Province, Central Iran. These mosquito-borne diseases along with the nuisance caused by female adult bitings are troublesome throughout mosquito active season. During July-October 2003, May-September 2004 and 2006, we collected mosquito larvae from Isfahan using dipping method, to study their fauna, habitat, and affinity indices. Collected larvae were preserved in lactophenol and mounted using de Faure's medium prior to microscopy study. Larvae were identified based on morphological characters. Out of 1659 third- and fourth-instar larvae, we discovered 15 species representing five genera including; Anopheles dthali, An. maculipennis s.I., An. marteri, An. multicolor, An. superpictus, An. turkhudi, Aedes vexans, Culex hortensis, Cx. mimeticus, Cr. perexiguus, Cx. pipiens, Cr. territans, Cr. theileri, Culiseta longiareolata, and Ochlerotatus caspius s.l. This is the first record of An. dthali, An. marten, and An. turkhudi in the province. Culex theileri (40.2), An. maculipennis s.l. (18.3), An. superpictus (12.6), and Cs. longiareolata (12.1) were the most abundant species found respectively. During this study, An. dthali, An. marteri, An. superpictus, An. turkhudi, and Oc. caspius s.l. were only collected from river edges. Anopehes multicolor however, was found in ground pools, while Cr. perexiguus was encountered from rice fields. Other species were collected from more than one habitat, nonetheless they were most abundant in certain habitats: An. maculipennis al. in rice fields (93.0), Cx. hortensis and Cr. theileri in ground pools (66.7 and 44.4 respectively), Cx. pipiens in artificial ponds (66.7), and Cs. longiareolata in river edges (50.4). The association occurrences, percentages, and affinity indices of the collected larvae are discussed.