Journal of Environmental Biology

Physico-chemical characteristics of breeding habitats in relation to larval density and relative abundance of Aedes mosquitoes from Siliguri sub-division, West Bengal, India

R. Sarkar, S. Das, A. Saha, P. Das, D. Raha and D. Saha*     

Department of Zoology, University of North Bengal, Raja Rammohanpur, Darjeeling-734 013, India

Received: 01 January 2024                   Revised: 19 February 2024                   Accepted: 20 March 2024

*Corresponding Author Email : dhirajsaha@nbu.ac.in                  *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2309-4068

Abstract

Aim: Characterization of physico-chemical parameters of Aedes mosquito breeding habitats from dengue-endemic Siliguri sub-divisional area and correlation of larval density with the habitat characteristics.

Methodology: Natural and artificial water-holding containers found in four blocks, namely- Naxalbari, Matigara, Khoribari and Phansidewa of Siliguri sub-divisional area were surveyed for the collection of Aedes mosquito larvae. Water parameters such as pH, temperature, electric conductance (EC), total dissolved solid (TDS), chloride, salinity, total hardness (TH) and dissolved oxygen (DO) were measured and the larval density (LD) indices and relative abundance for Aedes spp., were calculated.

Results: Out of 40 habitats, larvae of Aedes spp. were found in 20 habitats (50%). Ae. albopictus was found as the pre-dominant species (81.24%) in all the positive breeding habitats. Three habitat characteristics, like chloride (r= -0.959; p= 0.041), salinity (r= -0.958; p= 0.041)and TH (r= -0.961; p= 0.039) showed significant negative association with larval densityin the study. Whereas the remaining parameters, like-pH, temperature, EC, TDS, were positively correlated and DO showed a negative correlation with larval density. Although none of the later correlations were statistically significant. The larval density of Aedes spp. (mean ± SD) was lowest in Khoribari (27.66 ± 21.55) and highest in Phansidewa block (128.33 ± 187.26).

Interpretation: Pre-dominance of Ae. albopictus reiterates its importance as a principal dengue vectorin rural, peri- or sub-urban area of the sub-division. Utilizing the obtained data, the efficacy of oviposition traps can be enhanced for locale-specific vector surveillance and development of novel techniques that may deter larval growth, development and survival in an area.

Key words: Aedes mosquitoes, Dengue, Larval density, Mosquito-borne viral diseases, Siliguri

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