Study on fauna and seasonal abundance of Culicidae mosquitoes in Ahvaz City, Southwestern, Iran

Background: Mosquitoes play as main role vector to transmit several arthropod diseases therefore seasonal activities of them is important for control of mosquito-borne diseases.Objectives: The aims of this study was to determine the fauna and seasonal activities culicid mosquito in urban and suburban areas of Ahvaz city.Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional was performed on data of mosquito collection in Ahvaz city areas during 2016-2017. Mosquito’s adults and larvae were collected by spray sheet, hand catch collection methods and dipping method for the larvae collection. In addition, the physiochemical characters of breading places were determine.Results: Totally 723 adults and 2618 larvae of culicidae mosquitoes were collected. Eleven species were identified including; 3 anophelinae species (Anopheles stephensi. An. Superpictus and An. pulcherrimus), 5 Culicinae species (Culex. pipiens, Cx. tritaeniorhyncus Cx. theileri, Cx .pusillus and Cx.sitiens), Ae. (Ochlerotatus) caspius s.l. [Ochlerotatus caspius s.l.], Uranotaenia species (Uranotaenia unguiculata) and culiseta species (Culiseta langiarolata). The dominant Culicini was Cx. pipiens. The maximum abundance of mosquitoes was occurred in autumn season while the minimum occurred in summer season due to severe heatConclusion: Results of this study indicates that Ahvaz is one of potent city for mosquito-borne diseases while numerous mosquito vectors are present in the area. Breading places of Ahvaz provides suitable places for increasing the population of mosquitoes during autumn season.

کلیدواژه ها:

Culicidae ، Mosquito ، Fauna ، Culex pipiens ، Iran.