Bioecology of Dominant Malaria Vector, Anopheles superpictus s.l. Grassi (Diptera: Culicidae) In Iran

Malaria continues to be a main vector-borne public health problem in Iran. The endemic foci of the dis ease are mainly located in south-eastern part of the country. Iran is now launching the elimination of malaria. Studies on the bioecology and susceptibility of malaria vectors to insecticide are essential in this phase. The literature on bio-ecology of Anopheles superpictus s.l. Grassi was reviewed in Iran in more than half a century. Different aspects including, distribution, key identification, larval habitats, flight range, seasonal activities, irritability/susceptibility to insecticides, and anthropophilicity index were identified. The adult females of An. superpictus s.l. were susceptible to all WHO-recommended imagicides except DDT. Distribution, morphology, sibling species, larval habitat, flight range, Irritability tests, sustainability index, blood feed ing preference and related factors were discussed in details Results of the evaluating will help for decision making of authorities for vector control.