ABSTRACT

In this study, the seasonal larval and adult population dynamics, the seasonal gonotrophic status and feeding activity of Anopheles claviger were investigated from June 2000 to August 2002 in the Siverek district of the Şanlıurfa Province. Monthly samples were collected using light, animal, and human traps as well as the mouth aspirator in the study of adult populations and the dipper methods in larval populations. At the end of the study, it was found that the adult population was reproductively active between June and September. Reproductive activity came to an end in the beginning of October and by November the adult population had totally disappeared so that the population will be carried over to the next season by larval over-wintering between November and April. Unfed, fed and gravid adults were sampled continuously from June to September in stable quadrates and Anopheles claviger was shown to display endophagic feeding and endophilic resting behavior. Results obtained from animal and human traps showed that adult feeding activity increased during sunrise and sunset hours. Anthropophilic tendency in the population was determined to be 18.78% and 14.22% in 2000 and 2001, respectively.

Keywords: Anopheles claviger, population dynamics, feeding activity, malaria, Şanlıurfa