Population density of Aedes aegypti (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE) in rural areas surrounding Rajkot city, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Mosquitoes are significant vectors of diseases such as malaria, dengue, and chikungunya. The present study conducted a continuous two-year field survey across different seasons in the rural areas surrounding Rajkot City. This survey represents the first attempt to systematically explore and investigate the breeding and resting habitat preferences, distribution patterns, and population density of Aedes aegypti (commonly known as the yellow fever mosquito) in these regions. Species identification, larval and adult density, and distribution of breeding sites of the species were studied in the rural villages around the Rajkot City area. Results show that the highest density of adult Aedes aegypti was recorded in September 2007 and October 2008, which was the peak month of monsoon in this region, and the lowest density was recorded during April-May 2006 and May 2007, which was the weakest during the post-summer season in the study area. Results show that the breeding sites of Aedes aegypti were predominantly recorded during the study in the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Therefore, it was indicating that climatic conditions factors like temperature, rainfall, humidity, etc., play a crucial role in the breeding, resting, density, and distribution of the Aedes aegypti species of mosquito.