Indoor resting density pattern of mosquito species in Fingeswar block of Raipur district in Chhattisgarh, central India.

Anopheline mosquitoes are vectors of human malaria and hence they are of greatest concern. Around 40% of the world's population resides in malaria affected areas. Malaria affects poor communities and causes enormous economic losses. The deadly disease annually causes clinical illness in 400-600 million people and kills 2-3 millions annually (WHO 2008). Faunistic survey was conducted in Fingeswar block in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh state of India during January 2003 to March 2004 to asses the prevalence of different species of mosquitoes and their seasonal variations.Indoor resting mosquitoes were collected from selected houses in 5 villages using aspirator tube and torch light in the morning between 06:00-08:00. Adult mosquitoes were identified using standard morphological and pictorial keys following Rao (1984), Das et al. (1991) and Reuben et al. (1994) and assessed as person hour density.A total of 13,248 mosquitoes were collected during the study period. Nine species of mosquitoes comprising of 4 genera with 5 Anopheles, two Culex and one each Armigeres and Aedes were recorded. The malaria vectors constituted 14.09% of the total mosquito collections. Anopheles subpictus (25.81%) showed the dominance followed by A. annularis (8.68%), A. barbirostris (6.76%), A. culicifacies (5.41%) and A. pallidus (4.11%). The other genus recorded included Culex quinquefasciatus (38.38%), C. vishnui (3.32%), Armigeres subalbatus (6.92%) and Aedes albopictus (0.29%). The density of all the species were high in months of August, September and October, decreased in month of May and June 2003. There was a significant (p < 0.01) positive correlation between temperature and density of A. culicifacies and A. annularis. The seasonal distribution pattern of A. culicifacies (primary) and A. annularis (secondary) malaria vectors along with other mosquito species was studied which is an important component of epidemiological study of malaria. This information will help in formulating a baseline structure for control program in the study region.