The association of environmental changes and the replacement of mosquito fauna in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka

The mosquito survey was carried out for 8 months between October 2009 and May 2010. Investigations included 12 randomly selected urban (6) and semi-urban (6) areas in the Colombo District of Sri Lanka. Thirty eight mosquito species were found and Anopheles interruptus, An. pseudojamesii, Aedes stenovensoni, Ae. edwardsi, Ae. vittatus, Culex  barraudi, Cx. fatigans, Cx. univittatus, Cx. aculeatus, Cx. purplexus, Cx. spiculosus, Cx. quadripalpis, Cx. halifaxi, Uranotaenia atra, Ur. unguiculata were new findings that were not recorded  previously in the period 1981-1982 from the same locations although 11 different breeding habitats were examined. Rainfall had a direct relation (P=0.000) with the distribution and the density of mosquitoes. Unplanned urbanization, human activities and irregular or non-disposal of domestic waste products have led to a population replacement of the mosquito fauna in these locations