ASSESSING THE LINKAGE OF MOSQUITO DIVERSITY WITH TREE HOLES IN MULTAN

Abstract

Multan is a vast city expanding day by day by engulfing agricultural lands that leads to poor hygienic conditions. Such conditions help in proliferation of arthropod vectors and vector borne diseases including mosquito borne diseases. With the present scenario of climate change and anthropogenic activities, natural breeding habitats of mosquito species are being destroyed or lost resulting in shift of oviposition behavior from natural breeding sites to artificial ones. Tree holes are considered as one of preferred natural habitats for many species of mosquitoes. Some mosquito species may prefer particular tree species for egg laying while others may prefer some other tree species. Most controlling activities against mosquitoes involve artificial habitat destruction, while natural sites especially tree holes are overlooked due to lack of knowledge. Considering this scenario, the present study was planned to check population of mosquitoes in tree holes at various habitats in urban and rural areas of Multan. Trees having holes were selected on different urban and rural sites. A total 213 mature trees were visited on different selected sites and only 25 trees with holes were found. Data was collected on fortnightly basis; the collected specimens were brought to laboratory for identification purpose. Results of this study have shown that a total of 1008 mosquito larvae of three species; Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex vagans, were collected from the tree holes. Highest population of mosquitoes collected from mango tree holes which covered 40% of total mosquito population.  Species Aedes albopictus comprises 51% of total collected population with highest numbers while Culex vagans found in least numbers and covered 16% of total mosquito population.