Ecological study of Culex pipiens, the dominant species of Culicidae mosquitoes and its control solutions in Yazd province

Culex pipiens is extremely active in blood feeding in the urban areas. The role of this species in causing annoyance to the people, in addition to transmission of fillers, and viruses has increased their importance. Building of towns without proper principles of health and improvement of sewage systems is considered as the essential factor for producing larval habitat. The present study was carried out for ecological identification of Culex pipiens as the most prevalent mosquito and planning control programs.

In this experimental study were selected two cities that had the highest problem of mosquitoes. Suitable shelters were selected for sampling after survey on resting sites and larval breeding places of mosquitoes. Sampling carried out eleven times from May to December in 2009. Different sampling methods carried out such as larval collection, pyrethrum space spray collection, hand collection, light trap, and collection of mosquitoes from pit shelters.

In this study, the samples were of three genera Anopheles, Culex and Culiseta and five species of mosquitoes. Totally, 19054 mosquito larvae were caught from different breeding places. Cx. pipiens was predominant and consisted of 82.2% of the larvae. From 523 adult mosquitoes, 118 were collected by pyrethrum space spray collection. Cx. Pipiens with a 90% frequency was the most abundant mosquito, and Cx. sinaiticus was reported for the first time from Yazd Province.

Culex pipiens was the predominant species and its seasonal peak activity was from late June to early July. Comparison of abdominal physiological states of the species caught by pyrethrum space spray collection with pit shelter collection showed the exophilic behavior of this species.