Mosquito diversity in Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Nagarahole), Karnataka State, India

Abstract

One year long study was conducted to document the diversity of mosquito species in a national park of Karnataka State, India for the first time. A total of 60 species belonging to 10 genera were recorded. Seventeen different larval habitats were identified in the national park. Genus Culex was predominant with a maximum number of 21 species followed by Aedes with 12 and Anopheles with 10 species respectively. Aedes albopictus, An. barbirostris, An. vagus, Cx.fuscanus, Cx. fuscocephala and Cx. mimulus were found throughout the year. Maximum number of species was found to breed in ponds. Of the total number of species recorded, 14 are known to be vectors of different mosquito-borne diseases in India.