Mosquito community composition and abundance at contrasting sites in northern South Africa, 2014 –2017

ABSTRACTMost data on species associations and vector potential of mosquitoes in relation to arboviral infections in South Africa date back from the 1940s to late 1990s. Contextual information crucial for disease risk management and control, such as the sampling effort, diversity, abundance, and distribution of mosquitoes in large parts of South Africa still remains limited. Adult mosquitoes were collected routinely from two horse farms in Gauteng Province; two wildlife reserves in Limpopo Province, at Orpen Gate in Kruger National Park (KNP) and Mnisi Area in Mpumalanga Province between 2014 –2017, using carbon dioxide‐baited light and tent traps. Mosquito diversity and richness are greater in untransformed natural and mixed rural settings. In untransformed wilderness areas, the most dominant species wereCulex poicilipes,Anopheles coustani, andAedes mcintoshi, while in mixed rural settings such as the Mnisi area, the two most abundant species wereCx. poicilipes andMansonia uniformis. However, in peri ‐urban areas,Cx. theileri,Cx. univittatus, andCx. pipiens sensu lato were the most dominant.Aedes aegypti, Ae. mcintoshi,Ae. metallicus,Ae. vittatus,Cx. pipiens s.l.,Cx. theileri, andCx. univittatus had the widest geographical distribution in northern South Africa. Also collected wereAnopheles arabiensis andAn. vaneedeni, both known malaria vectors in South Africa. Arbovirus surveillance and vector control programs should be augmented in mixed rural and peri ‐urban areas ...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - Category: Biology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research