World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Rajeswari et al . World Journal of Pharmaceutical SJIF Impact Research Factor 7.523 Volume 6, Issue 9, 474-482. Research Article ISSN 2277– 7105 MOSQUITOE DIVERSITY IN ERODE DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA A. Raja Rajeswari* and K. Nagarajan1 *Assistant Professor, 1Associate Professor and Head (Rtd), PG and Research Department of Zoology, Sri Vasavi College, Erode. ABSTRACT Article Received on 26 June 2017, A survey on mosquito diversity in Erode district was carried out and Revised on 16 July 2017, totally 5114 mosquitoes belonging to 7 genus (Anopheles, Aedes, Accepted on 06 Aug. 2017 DOI: 10.20959/wjpr20179-8828 Armigeres, Aedeomyia, Culex, Lutzia and Ochlerotatus) and 23 species were collected during the study period. Both indoor and outdoor adults *Corresponding Author were collected from human dwellings, cattle sheds and larvae were A. Raja Rajeswari collected from different aquatic habitats. The most dominant genus Assistant Professor, PG and collected was Culex 29.36%, followed by Anopheles 26.27% and the Research Department of genus Aedeomyia represented 0.15%. Aedesalbopictus was the Zoology, Sri Vasavi College, predominant species and represented by 42.23% of the total Erode. mosquitoes which was followed by Aedesaegypti 25.08% and the least was Culex mimulus 0.17%. Armigeres subalbatus, Aedeomyia catastica and Lutzia fuscana were the single species collected during the study period. KEYWORDS: Biodiversity, Anopheles, Aedes, Armigeres, Aedeomyia, Culex, Lutzia and Ochlerotatus. INTRODUCTION The term “BIODIVERSITY” is usually used as a synonym for “variety of life” and it is widely applied not only in scientific context but also in media and political discussions. Prendergast et al., (1993) compared the coincidence of diversity hotspots of some different groups of insects and examined whether species-rich areas contain substantial number of rare species. Biodiversity is not evenly distributed, rather it varies greatly across the globe as well as within regions. Biodiversity relevance to human health is becoming an international political issue, as scientific evidence builds on the global health implications of biodiversity loss (Corvalan et al., 2005; Chivian and Bernstein, 2008). www.wjpr.net Vol 6, Issue 9, 2017. 474 Rajeswari et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research The Diptera are among the most diverse insect orders, which estimates of described richness ranging from 1, 20,000 to 1, 50,000 species (Colles and Mc Alpine, 1991; Schumann, 1992; Brown, 2001; Merritt et al., 2003). Mosquitoes belonging to family culicidae are a large group of small insects present throughout the temperate and tropical regions and even beyond the Arctic circle of the world (Harbach, 2007). Mosquitoes are vectors of a number of agents that cause debilitating diseases, including malaria, yellow fewer, filariasis, dengue, dog heart worm, the encephalitis and related viral diseases. India has rich biological Diversity and one of the 12 Mega Diverse countries of the World (The Biological Diversity Act, 2003). India is ranked fifth in terms of mosquito biodiversity after Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand (Foley et al., 2007). The distribution pattern of adult mosquitoes is related to habitat preferences of the immature stage. Ecological changes, poor sanitation facilities, agricultural practices` and poor medical facilities enhance the mosquito diversity and vector-borne diseases. Vector borne diseases refer to illness caused by pathogens and parasites in human populations and account for over 17% of all infectious diseases (WHO, 2004). Various species of Anopheles, Culex, Aedes and Mansonia are important as carriers of diseases. Malaria, Filariasis, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue fever and Dengue hemorrhagic fever are the major mosquito borne diseases in India. Tamil Nadu is one of the major areas which consist of different types of habit and habitats. Study on diversity of mosquitoes in Tamil Nadu is meager. At the same time, there were no systematic studies have been conducted in Erode District to document the mosquito diversity. Hence, an attempt has been made to survey the mosquito fauna in different ecosystems of Erode district, Tamil Nadu. Mosquito survey provides valuable information on occurrence, distribution, prevalence and species composition of various Mosquitoes in an area, which assume significance due to their public health importance. MATERIALS AND METHODS Erode District is extended between 10-35' and 11-60' of north latitude and 76.49' and 77.58' of East longitude and 171-91 meters above the mean sea level. The temperature ranges from a maximum of 96 °F (36 °C) to a minimum of 80 °F (27 °C). An average rain fall is about 812 mm (32.0 in). Agriculture is the most important income source of the district. www.wjpr.net Vol 6, Issue 9, 2017. 475 Rajeswari et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research From the Erode district, 34 collection sites were chosen covering urban, rural and forest fringes for mosquito collections. Besides, random collections were carried out from other localities. Adult collections were made using oral aspirator, mechanical aspirator and sweep nets. Indoor resting collections and outdoor resting mosquitoes were made from 06:00 to 08:00 in human dwellings and cattle sheds and between 18:00 and 21:00 h.in pit shelters, poultry houses, bushes, gardens, bus stops, bakery shops. The standard dipper 400ml (WHO, 1975) was used for the collection of the mosquito larva. Mosquitoes were transported to laboratory and anesthetized with ethyl acetate and mounted on a minute pin under a binocular stereo microscope. Adults collected in the field were assigned the code RC (Resting Collection) and numbered on pinning as RC1, RC2, RC3, etc., with the date of collection and collection site and habit or habitat. Larval sample collected from different habitats were maintained separately with a code number for the collection site and habitat. Larval skin of fourth-instar larvae were removed from each of the larval sample and preserved in 70% alcohol with the respective code for later preparation of slide mounts. Mounting medium Hoyer‟s medium, the one considered to be most satisfactory for mosquito material by Belkin (1962). Collected specimens were identified in Vector Control Research Centre, Pondicherry using the works of Christophers (1933), Barraud (1934), Bram (1967), Huang (1972, 1979), Sirivanakarn (1976), Rao (1981, 1984), Reuben et al., (1994). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A total of 5114 Mosquitoes belonging to 7 genera (Anopheles, Aedes, Armigeres, Aedeomyia, Culex, Lutzia and Ochlerotatus) and 23 species were collected during the study period. The diversity of mosquitoes in the study area shows the availability of breeding habitats, resting places and favourable climatic factors like temperature and rainfall. Mosquitoes have been used as bio-indicators of forest degradation and an anthropic pressure on natural environments (Dorville 1996 and Montes 2005). The most dominant genus collected was Culex (29.36%) with 10 species, followed by Anopheles (6 species), Aedes (4 species). All other genera viz. Armigere, Aedeomyia, Lutzia and Ochlerotatus were represented by one species each. Similar results have been reported from Tamil Nadu by various researchers. www.wjpr.net Vol 6, Issue 9, 2017. 476 Rajeswari et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research The accidental introduction of Culex mosquitoes in the early 19th century, importation and release of domestic fowl, game birds and cage birds are believed to be responsible for the establishment of avian pox virus and malaria (Warner 1968and Van Riper et al., 1986). Similar to current findings Culex was found as the most predominant species throughout the year in Chittagong by Gupta 1998; Sultana 2000 and Laila 2001. Hiriyan et al., 2003 also reported Culex as dominant genus with 11 species, 7 species of Anopheles, 3 species of Aedes, 3 species of Mansonia and Armigeres with one species in kuttanad region of Alappuzha district, Kerala. diversity of Culex was positively correlated with artificial irrigation system and paddy plantation. Similar observation was reported by Klinkenberg et al., 2003 and Burroni et al., 2007. Contrary to these observations Amala and Aunradha (2012) recorded Anopheles as the dominant genus followed by the genus Aedes and Culex in Sirumalai hills of Tamil Nadu. Ae.albpopictus the „Asian Tiger Mosquito‟ act as an important vector for dengue in rural areas (Vincet et al., 1998), was the predominant species (42.23%) of the total species collected. Ae.albopictus was a secondary vector in different parts of world including India (WHO 1999) and transmit Chikungunya in Asia, Africa and Europe. It is also a susceptible vector to West Nile Virus (Michel et al., 2002). Mostly breeding in discarded tyres and plastic containers. Regular agricultural activities in study areas increase the Ae.albpopictus population which was at par with the findings of other workers (Cheah et al., 2006). Due to deforestation this mosquito now has adapted to breed in discarded containers in many parts of India (Baskara Rao and Biju George 2010). Ae.aegypti breeds in natural habitats tree hole and discarded containers viz. tyres, grinding stones, mud pot and Flower pot. Around the world Ae.aegypti act as the primary vector for Dengue Fever and Yellow Fever, flaviviruses (William et al., 2002). They reported rural dengue fever among the rural communities in Sarawak, Malaysia. Ae.aegypti is highly anthropophilic and prefers to feed on human blood (Halstead 2008) and mostly associated with epidemic transmission (Lambrechts et al., 2010). In India recently epidemics of dengue have been reported from Calcutta, Punjab, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Whereas Aunradha et al., (2011) in Tamil Nadu, Karim et al., (2013) in Dhaka city recorded Cx.quinquefasciatus as the predominant species followed by Ae.albopictus during their study. www.wjpr.net Vol 6, Issue 9, 2017. 477 Rajeswari et al. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Anopheles species are vectors of malaria were collected in various natural breeding sites. An.culicifacies found in this study are the major rural malarial vectors in India (Khan et al., 2014).