Greener Journal of Biological Sciences

Greener Journal of  Biological Sciences Vol. 3 (7), pp. 268-275, September 2013.

 © 2013 Authors

Research Paper

Manuscript Number: 070913825

Characterization of the Mosquito Breeding Habitats in Two Urban Localities of Cairo Governorate, Egypt

Sherif El Said Ammar¹, Mohamed Amin Kenawy^2*,

Hashim Aly Abdel-Rahman², Adel Fahmi Ali³,

Yousrya Mohamed Abdel-Hamid⁴, Adel Mahmoud Gad²

[1]Biology Department, School of Science and Engineering (SSE), American University in Cairo (AUC), Cairo, Egypt.

2Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt.

3Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt.

4Research Institute of Medical Entomology, The General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes, Ministry of Health, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

*Corresponding Author’s Email: mohamedkenawy85 @yahoo .com, Phone (work): (+202) 24821096, Ext. 711,

Fax: (+202) 22642123, Mobile phone: (+2) 01223540005, 01111151554

Abstract:

The knowledge of the natural characteristics of the mosquito breeding habitats is important for implementing effective larval control program. For this, the association of six mosquito species (Culex pipiens, Cx. perexiguus, Cx. pusillus, Ochlerotatus caspius, Anopheles multicolor and Culiseta longiareolata) with the physical characteristics of their breeding habitats was examined in El-Muqattam and Abu-Seir; of the urban areas in Cairo Governorate.  Based on the highest frequency of occurrence (P<0.05) of mosquito larvae comparable to each habitat character, the determinant factors for breeding of such species were concluded.  Such factors were in El- Muqattam:  small sites (<10m perimeter), stagnant and clear water, absence of predators (Gambusia affinis) and absence of aquatic vegetations. In Abu-Seir: large sites (>10m perimeter), mud bottoms, presence of aquatic vegetations and absence of predators. The study concluded that the environmental control measures based on modifying habitat characteristics can be effective in controlling targeted mosquito species specially those vectors of diseases.

Keywords: Mosquito larvae, characteristics of breeding habitats, urban areas, Cairo, Egypt.

Return to Content         View Reprint (PDF) (386KB)