Physico-chemical characteristics of the mosquito breeding water in two urban areas of Cairo Governorate, Egypt

Certain physico-chemical characteristics of mosquito breeding habitats [temperature, pH, salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO) and nitrite] were examined relative to the distribution of mosquito larval species in two urban areas of Cairo Governorate namely El- Muqattam (M) and Abu-Seir (A). Mean values and ranges of such characteristics for the reported mosquito species (Culex pipiens, Cx. perexiguus, Ochlerotatus caspius, Cx. pusillus and Culiseta longiareolata) were reported. In conclusion, based on the significant correlations of the different characteristics with the abundance of the two common larval species (Culex pipiens and Cx. perexiguus), salinity and DO may be considered the predictor variables associated with the immature abundance. Considering altogether mosquitoes, there is an increasing presence from planned safe (M) to unplanned unsafe (A) habitats mainly due to turbidity and nitrite

Distribution and periodicity of sandflies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) along different altitudes in Asir Region, Southwest of Saudi Arabia

Asir Region in the southwest of Saudi Arabia has been a subject for expansion of agricultural projects, urbanization, which presumably have impact on distribution of phlebotomine sandflies. Few reports are available on sandflies in this region which is an important focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Therefore, this study aimed at updating the species composition, distribution and periodical fluctuation of sandflies in this region. Specimens were monthly collected by the Center for Disease Control light traps for one year in four localities representing different altitudes. In five other, collections were twice during the year period. Ten species (six <em>Phlebotomus</em> and four <em>Sergentomyia</em>) were identified, of which <em>P. arabicus</em> (32%) was the most common followed by <em>P. bergeroti</em> (29%) and <em>P. sergenti</em> (15%). Of the reported species, <em>S. palestinensis</em> is considered a new record from Asir. Sandflies were more common and maximum biodiversity was observed in lowlands and not in high altitudes. At different altitudes, the two commonest species were more active during spring. Sandfly density (sandfly/trap) was directly related to temperature and inversely related to altitude, relative humidity (RH) and wind velocity (P&lt;0.05). To sum up, the distribution and abundance of sandflies in Asir are influenced by a combination of different factors: temperature, RH, wind velocity and altitude

Influence of climatic factors on the abundance of Culex pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) adults in the Western Coast of Saudi Arabia

This study aims to examine the effect of weather factors, temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and wind velocity (WV) on the abundance of Cx. (Cux.) pipiens L. and Cx. (Cux.) quinquefasciatus. Say, the two common and important mosquito species in the western coast of Saudi Arabia. The two species had the same ranges of T (15.00-30.00°C), RH (8.00-72.00%) and WV (0.10- 8.06 Km/h). Cx. quinquefasciatus had insignificantly (P˃0.05) lower means of the three factors than those of Cx. pipiens. Regression analysis indicated that abundance of Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus negatively related to T (regression coefficient, b=-0.06 and -0.01 for the two species, respectively) and WV (b=-0.40 and -0.16 for the two species, respectively) and positively related to RH (b=0.05 for both species). Such factors accounted for 81% and 76% of the variance in abundance of Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus, respectively while the remaining parts (19% and 24% for the two species, respectively) may be attributed to other factors mainly rainfall