Mosquito Species diversity (Diptera: Culicidae) and larval habitat characteristics in

Malaria is considered to be a major health problem in many countries. The aim of this study was to identify new species of Culicidae larval habitat of Anopheles and to determine their distribution in the Kohgiloye and Boyer province, Iran. In the present cross-sectional study, the larval habitats of three cities (including Yasuj, Dehdasht and Gachsaran) of Kohgiloye and Boyer Ahmad province was conducted during 2012. Samples were collected with a scoop by ladle handling for Entomology. The collected Larvae were canned in Lactophenol solution with features and code related transferred to entomology laboratory of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The microscopic slides were prepared using a Lekidofore solution and were identified with key valid diagnosis. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 11.5. A total of 1043 samples of mosquito larvae were identified in different parts of Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad in 2 genera and 12 species. These identified species were: Anopheles (Cellia)superpictus Grassi, An.(Cel.)fluviatilis James, An.(Cel.)dthali Patton, An.(Cel.)turkhudi Liston, An.(Cel.)stephensi Liston, An.(Cel.) subpictus Grassi, An.(Anopheles)sacharovi Favre, Cx.(Cux.)theileri Theobad, Cx.(Cux.)sitiens Wiedemann, Cx.(Cux.)pipens Linnaeus, Cx.(Cux.)pusillus Macquart, Cx.(Cux.)perxiguus Theobald. Culex pipens larvae was predominant and Cx.(Cux.)sitiens, Cx.(Cux.)perxiguus, An.sacharovi were found as the lowest larvae. Culicidae Culex mosquito larvae was the highest and the lowest species were Cx.(Cux.)sitiens, Cx.(Cux.)perxiguus, An.sacharovi. Culex pipens was the dominant species. Exclusive molecular and morphological studies will be essential to identify the malaria vectors, An.stephensi complex and An.superpictus complex in this area.