Larval Mosquito Fauna of Barangay Buli Creek, Muntinlupa City (November 2007 JANUARY 2008)

Abstract

Mosquitoes are of public health concern because they are vectors of diseases like malaria and dengue, a reason why they are targeted for control. The first step for mosquito control is surveillance. This study aims to identify the mosquito genera present in Barangay Buli Creek, Muntinlupa City from November 2007 - January 2008. Surveillance for the presence of mosquito larvae was done at Bgy. Buli Creek, Muntinlupa City through the standard dipping method. A total of 140 water samples were collected from 36 sampling areas during a 3-month period. Mosquito larvae from the water samples were isolated, killed in hot water & preserved in 70% EtOH. Identification of larvae up to the genus level was done through the microscopic observation of the 8lh abdominal segment for the presence and chaetotaxy of the breathing tube. Culex sp. and Aecles sp. were the identified mosquito genera. The mean mosquito breeding index for the study is 1.72 (~2) larvae/dip. The individual breeding indices of Culex sp. and Aedes sp. are 0.29 (~1) larvae/dip and 5.43 (~6) larvae/dip. It is concluded that Barangay Buli Creek, Muntinlupa City is a breeding place for mosquitoes like Culex and Aedes.