ABSTRACT

To identify the mosquito species and the potential mosquito-related infectious diseases in Manisa province, mosquito larvae were collected from aquatic habitats in Manisa between October 2008 and October 2009.

Mosquito larvae were collected from the surface water of study sites with a standard larvae collection spoon. The 1^st and 2^nd stage larvae brought to the laboratory were kept until they become adults, and their species were identified during 3^rd or 4^th larvae stages. In addition, species identification was made for 3^rd or 4^th stage larvae as well as pupae in aquatic samples, as well.

A total of 8098 larvae samples were collected during the study and Culex (Culex) pipiens and Culex (Neoculex) martini were found to be the predominant species in Manisa. Three Culex [Culex (Culex) pipiens, Culex (Neoculex) martini, Culex (Maillotia) deserticola], two Culiseta [Culiseta (Culiseta) annulata, Culiseta (Allotheobaldia) longiareolata] and one Anopheles [Anopheles (Cellia) superpictus] species were identified.

Anopheles superpictus, the vector of malaria; Culex pipiens, Culiseta annulata, Culiseta longiareolata, the vectors of tularemia and arbovirus infections such as West Nile Virus infection, were identified in Manisa province. Conduction of similar larger-scale studies will contribute to the prevention of vector-borne diseases in our region.

Keywords: Manisa, mosquito, Culex spp., Anopheles, vector