Further observations on the mosquito fauna of Udawattakele forest, Sri Lanka

Abstract

A futher study of the mosquitoes at Udawattakele forest, Kandy was made during 1984-85, sampling the daytime resting, crepuscular-nocturnal human biting and light-trap attracted species, to suppliment information on the breeding and diurnal human biting species gatered during a previous study in 1980-81. Thirty species (7 genera) resting in the forest were collected using a battery powered suction sweeper, the dominant species being Culex psedovishnui. This species and Cx. nigropunctatus rested mainly on leaf litter on the forest or shrub/grass patches. Twenty five species (4 genera) were captured at human bait, with Armigeres subalbatus and Cx. pseudovishnui being the most prevalent. Biting rhythms associated with the evening crepaucular period were demonstrated in Aedes albopictus, Ar. subalbetus and Cx. psedovishoui, but not in Ae. chrysoscuta. Twenty five species (8 genera) were taken at CDC light traps with only Cx. pseudovishnui occurring in significant numbers. Overall, 61 species representing 11 genera have been recorded in Udawattakele Forest from all published sources. Species diversity indices as determined in the present study, however, were low and indicated the quantitative dominance of a few species in the forest in relation to the survey methods employed