Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part A (2020)

Author(s): Deepthi G Nair and Gayathri VM

Abstract: A larval survey for dengue vector Aedes albopictus were carried out in the rubber plantation areas of a village in Palakkad district to determine its breeding site preference. The larval indices were calculated using the WHO standard methods and it is correlated with climatological factors like temperature and rainfall during the pre-monsoon and monsoon periods of the year 2019. A total of 660 water holding containers were observed in which latex collection cup alone constitute about 82.12%.Highest House Index and Container Index were recorded during the month of May and lowest during April. Highest Bretaeu Index were recorded during the monsoon season and lowest during the premonsoon season. There is very strong and positive correlation between climatic factors like rainfall and mean minimum temperature with all the three larval indices. These indices shows negative correlation with maximum temperature. Climatic factors favours the breeding of Aedes albopictus in the study area and the high breeding indices for Aedes larvae above the threshold limit recommended by WHO in the study area imply their potential for dengue transmission and future outbreaks.