Abundance of Aedes Albopictus and Culex Quinquefasciatus Larvae (Diptera: Culicidae) in Kampung Tringgus, Kuching Division, Sarawak

Mosquito-borne diseases are a significant public health concern in tropical regions, including Sarawak, Malaysia. This study investigated the occurrence of Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito larvae in breeding containers in a village of Bau, Sarawak. Ovitrap surveillance was conducted by collecting mosquito larvae from a total of 252 natural and artificial containers over a period of six months, from September 2018 to February 2019. The collected larvae were reared to adults and identified using morphological characteristics of the species. Ten mosquito species belonging to five genera were documented in the present study. A total of 5,825 individuals were encountered within the village. The study revealed a high incidence of both Ae. albopictus totalling 2,708 individuals, and Cx. quinquefasciatus, comprising 721 individuals, in larval stages present in the breeding containers found within the village of Bau. The mosquito species with the lowest number was Tripteroides sp. with only three individuals collected over the six-month study. An understanding of the distribution and abundance of mosquito species in village is crucial to raise awareness and implement effective vector control measures.