Diversity of mosquitoes and larval breeding preference based on physico-chemical parameters in Western Ghats, Tamilnadu, India

Objective: To study the diversity and distribution of mosquitoes in Western Ghats of\udCoimbatore and Nilgiris District, Tamilnadu, India.\udMethods: Random collections were carried out during August-2013 to July-2014 in cesspits,\udanimal footprints, rock holes, tree holes, drainages at study areas of Marudhamalai, Valparai,\udMettupalayam in Coimbatore District and Dhottapeta, Coonoor, Gudalur in Nilgiris District\udof Tamilnadu, India by using suction tube and kerosene pump. Mosquitoes were identified by\udstandard entomological procedures.\udResults: A total of 1 018 mosquitoes (larvae and pupae) were collected from all over the study\udareas comprising 6 genera and 23 species. They are, Culex mimulus, Culex pseudovishnui,\udCulex quinquefasciatus, Culex vishnui, Culex khazani, Culex uniformis, Heizmannia chandi,\udHeizmannia grenii, Heizmannia indica, Oclerotatus anureostriatus, Oclerotatus albotaeniatis,\udOclerotatus deccanus, Oclerotatus gubernatoris, Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Aedes\udedwardsi, Aedes krombeini, Toxorhynchites minimus, Toxorhynchites splendens, Anopheles\udaitkenii, Anopheles barbirostris, Anopheles culiciformis and Anopheles maculatus. ShannonWeaver diversity index, Margalef’s index of richness and Simpsons dominance index was\udalso studied. From 6 sites, the highest mosquitoes were collected from Marudhamalai\ud(309) and the least mosquitoes were collected in Mettupalayam (68). The study determined\udwhether physicochemical characteristics differ between habitats with high and low presence\udof mosquito larvae. Based on Margalef’s index of richness (Dmg), the highest values were\udpresent in Mettupalayam (5.214) study area and the lowest in Marudhamalai (3.837). It can\udbe concluded from Shanon-Weaver index of diversity that, the highest values were present in\udMettupalayam (2.947) and the least value were in Gudalur (2.410) during the study period.\udConclusions: In areas with reservoirs of disease, mosquito abundance information can help to\udidentify the areas at higher risk of disease transmission. The study identifies mosquito species\uddensity and diversity of culicine and anopheline larvae. Hence, this research contribution has\udmore significance for basic biological research and developing control strategies for vector\udborne diseases