AN ENTOMOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE COMPOSITION AND SEASONAL PREVALENCE OF MOSQUITOES IN CENTRAL KERALA, INDIA

Abstract

Diseases transmitted by mosquito vectors are of global importance. Knowledge on mosquito composition and their seasonal prevalence are the major prerequisites for assessing the risk of various mosquito-borne diseases in an area. Objectives of the study was to understand the composition and seasonal prevalence of mosquitoes in selected districts of Kerala state. Samples were collected from selected localities of central Kerala using standard methods for a period of three years. Samples were collected from 48 localities of the study areaduring pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. A total of 38 species belonging to 10 genera were recorded.Individual species showed seasonal variation in prevalence and population size. The recorded species include vectors of Dengue Fever, Chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis, Malaria and Filariasis.