Faunal and Habitat Distribution of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan
Faunal and Habitat Distribution of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan
Arif Mehmood1*, Muhammad Naeem2, Abu Bakkar Muhammad Raza1, Muhammad Zeeshan Majeed1, Muhammad Irfan Ullah1, Muhammad Asam Riaz1, Ikram ul Haq1 and Waqas Raza1
ABSTRACT
Mosquitoes have different preferences for habitats on the basis of their feeding habits and behavior. Spatial hotspots are the target areas in precise control. The diversity indices and habitat web structures are the tools which can be helpful in controlling disease vector in case of epidemic. In this study, microhabitats were specified, surveys were conducted to explore specified microhabitats in Chakwal district of Pothwar region, Punjab, Pakistan. After qualitative and quantitative sorting, checklist of mosquitoes along with diversity indices and quantitative habitat web were prepared, which point out the hotspots of different mosquito species. In this study, a total of 580 specimens, comprising twelve mosquito species belonging to five genera were collected, which were deposited in the Biosystematics Laboratory of Pir Mehr Ali Shah, Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi. Results show that Park, Forest area, and scrapyard were the most abundant habitats respectively, while the least abundant habitat was crop area. Parks were found to be the richest habitat, while graveyards were the least rich habitat.
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