Larval Anopheles Species Composition and Diversity at Different Habitats and Seasons of Gondar Zuria District, Ethiopia

Abstract

Anopheles species’ larval habitats are diversified and season dependent. Anopheles larvae can be found at different habitats and their preference may vary seasonally. Knowledge of species diversity and distribution helps plan malaria control interventions. Anopheles larvae were sampled using the WHO standard 350 ml dipper from breeding habitats of irrigation, pond, sewage, stream, and swamp. The collected sample larvae were identified microscopically to species using morphological keys. Among Anopheles species recorded, Anopheles gambiae complex was the most abundant followed by Anopheles christyi, Anopheles cinereus, Anopheles demeilloni, and Anopheles pharoensis in descending order. Anopheles species occurred more in January than in other months of the study period and less in March and April. For any particular mosquito species, larval abundance did not significantly vary between the habitats; in other words, all habitats contributed equally. In this study, we confirmed that Anopheles mosquito larval population varied more with respect to species than to habitats and months. Interventions could be launched targeting each habitat; during the month, numbers were high.