Mosquito diversity and disease transmission in Kerala: An integrated review of species ecology, habitat, and public health impact

Mosquitoes are a highly diverse insect group with significant implications for both ecology and public health, particularly in Kerala, India. This review provides a comprehensive overview of mosquito species diversity in Kerala, detailing key vector genera such as Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex, as well as non-vector species that contribute to local ecological dynamics. Factors such as monsoon seasonality, diverse ecosystems-from coastal plains to high-altitude regions-and human-induced habitat alterations critically influence mosquito breeding and distribution patterns. Additionally, we explore species-specific habitat preferences and breeding behaviours that impact the transmission dynamics of mosquito-borne diseases like Dengue, malaria, chikungunya, and Japanese encephalitis, all of which pose major health challenges in the region. Understanding the complex relationships between mosquito ecology, climatic variations, and disease outbreaks provides critical insights into the regional epidemiology of mosquito-borne diseases. This review synthesizes ecological and epidemiological perspectives to advance our understanding of the role mosquito diversity and habitat specialization play in disease dynamics in Kerala.