Diversity, Seasonality and Relative Abundance of Mosquitoes (Insecta: Diptera) in Selected Urban & Rural Areas of Purulia, West Bengal

Being an endemic district for malaria and lymphatic filariasis, along with the emerging dengue situation, the current study was conducted in Purulia district in both urban (Purulia Municipality) and rural (Block: Bandwan, Baghmundi, Purulia-I, Purulia-II) zones from March-2023 to February-2024, once in a month. Adult samples were collected from cattle sheds, outdoor and indoor spaces using an aspirator and test tube. These samples were morphologically identified using the available identification key. Plenty of larval samples were also observed according to their habitat or types of breeding grounds. A total of 15 species belonging to the 06 genera under two sub-families of the family Culicidae were recorded during the present study. Among the recorded species, the genus Culex recorded a maximum of 05 species, followed by the genus Anopheles (04 species), Aedes (02 species), Mansonia (02 species), Armigeres (01 species), and Toxorhynchitis (01 species). Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 was found relatively abundant (18.18%), followed by Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1895) with 14.08%, Anopheles annularis van der Wulp, 1884 (9.38%), Culex (Culex) gelidus Theobald, 1901 (8.5%), and so on. The relative abundance of Aedes albopictus was higher during monsoon and postmonsoon, while least abundance was recorded in the winter. The average per man hour density (PMHD) values were also determined for the vector species in various seasons, revealing a distinct seasonal trend for each species. As there are few records of mosquito species in this geographic region, baseline updated information on mosquitoes (particularly vector species) may play a significant part in endemic districts such as Purulia, West Bengal.