Monitor mosquito activity using standard ovitraps in Kashan County, Central Iran (April to Late September 2019)

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to monitor mosquito activity with emphasis on Aedes species in Kashan County. Materials and Methods: This investigation was carried out in Kashan County, from April to late September 2019. The location coordinates of the sampling sites were marked and registered with Global Positioning System deviceand mapped using Arc Map 10.5 software. In this study, mosquitos' larvae were collected from 120 standard ovitraps, which had been placed in 15 locations in Kashan, Qamsar, and Niasar. Cyndon dactylon at 50% concentration was used as an oviposition attractant (250 ml/trap). Ovitraps were visited regularly to check for eggs or larvae. The mosquito's larvae were identified using a systematic key. Results: A total of 535 mosquitos' larvae were collected from ovitraps and were identified under two genera Culex and Culiseta. The collected species were Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (72.4%), Culex theileri Theobald, 1903 (18.3%), Culex torrentium Martini, 1925 (0.2%) and Culiseta longiareolata (Macquart, 1838) (9.1%). This is the first report of present Cx. torrentium Martini, 1925 in Kashan County. Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 was found at 13 locations from 15. In this study, there were 4.46 larvae per ovitrap. Conclusions: Although no samples of Aedes mosquitoes were captured in this preliminary study, further investigations using different methods of mosquito collection should be done to accurately comment on the current fauna of Kashan Aedes.