Diversity of Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) In the Nangkhel V.D.C. of The Bhaktapur District

Abstract

Mosquitoes were collected from the Nangkhel V.D.C of Bhaktapur district from May2007to September 2007.The collection of mosquitoes were done from 6 to 8pm in the morningand in the evening with the help of hand-aspirator, mosquito net and torch light. Altogether317 specimens of mosquitoes were collected during the study period in the study area. Thediversity of the mosquito in the study area contained four different types of genera ofmosquitoes viz:Culex, Anopheles, Aedes, andArmigeres.There was statistically significantvariation in mosquito distribution due to effect of season and habitat. The density ofArmigereswas found high where the ditches, bushes and stagnant ponds were present nearhouse. TheCulex'spopulations were high in those houses where the paddy fields, cowshedsand cattle sheds were near from the human dwellings. The density ofAnophelesandAedesare lowest in comparison toArmigeres andCulex. Seasonal prevalence showed that themosquito density was least in May and highest in August. The mean density of mosquitowas positively correlated with Temperature(r = 0.412380), Rainfall (r = 0.743222) andRelative humidity(r = 0.769633).The study found out that the most diverse fauna in the study area during thestudy period was the genusArmigeres(H' = 0.155), similarlyCulex(H' = 0.154),Anopheles(H' = 0.141) and the least diverse fauna was found to be the genusAedes(H' = 0.072).About 46% ofArmigeres, 27% ofCulex, 21% ofAnophelesand 6% ofAedeswas present in the study area during the study period. Key words:Diversity, fauna, Aedes, Anopheles, Armigeres, Culex,Seasonal prevalence, Correlation.