Vol. 4, Issue 2, Part A (2017)

Author(s): Ahmad-Ali Hanafi-Bojd, Moussa Soleimani-Ahmadi, Sara Doosti and Shahyad Azari-Hamidian

Abstract: An investigation was carried out studying the ecology of the larvae of Culicinae (Diptera: Culicidae) in Bashagard County, Hormozgan Province, southern Iran. Larval habitat characteristics were recorded according to habitat situation and type, vegetation, sunlight situation, substrate type, turbidity and water depth during 2009–2011. Physicochemical parameters of larval habitat waters were analyzed for electrical conductivity (µS/cm), total alkalinity (mg/l), turbidity (NTU), total dissolved solids (mg/l), total hardness (mg/l), acidity (pH), water temperature (°C) and ions such as calcium, chloride, magnesium and sulphate. In total, 1479 third- and fourth-instar larvae including twelve species representing four genera were collected and identified: Aedes vexans, Culex arbieeni, Cx. bitaeniorhynchus, Cx. mimeticus, Cx. perexiguus, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. sinaiticus, Cx. theileri, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Culiseta longiareolata, Ochlerotatus caballus and Oc. caspius. All species, except Cx. bitaeniorhynchus, were reported for the first time in Bashagard County. Culiseta longiareolata (37.5%), Cx. sinaiticus (23.7%), Cx. quinquefasciatus (22.9%) and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (6.8%) were the most abundant species, respectively. Culex sinaiticus, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Cs. longiareolata and Cx. perexiguus showed the most distribution, respectively. The physicochemical features of habitat water, habitat characteristics, association occasions and percentages, affinity and diversity indices of the larvae are discussed.

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