EVALUATION OF MOSQUITO OVITRAPS IN DIFFERENT LOCALITIES OF MULTAN

Abstract

The objective of the study was to check the efficacy of ovitraps and assess whether variation in the breeding habitat type and water quality parameters can affect the abundance of larvae in an ovitrap. This study was conducted in different localities of Multan including Awami Nursery near High Court, Canal colony old Bahawalpur road, Nishter colony, Nishter hospital Multan, Bblock MRI research area MNS-University of Agriculture Multan (MNS-UAM). A pair of ovitraps was placed in each locality. Data was collected on weekly basis to determine the presence of mosquito larvae; the collected specimens were brought to laboratory for identification purpose. The data so collected was analyzed statistically by using SPSS-16. Results of this study have shown that a total of 12,377 mosquito larvae including three species; Culex quinquefasciatus, Cx. vagans, Cx. fuscocephala were collected from the ovitraps out of which Cx. quinquefasciatus (5815) found most abundant. Highest number of larvae was recorded during the month of October. Culex vagans, Cx. fuscocephala, Cx. quinquefasciatus were found the most abundant species during the months of October and November. Among various water types in ovitraps, Cx. quinquefasciatus found in excessive quantity than Cx. vagans in ovitraps containing turbid water whereas Cx. vagans found more abundant in turbid foul. Culex fuscocephala was recorded in lesser number than Cx. quinquefasciatus in turbid foul water. It was concluded that ovitrap is a good surveillance technique to monitor mosquito population.