Ecology of the mosquito larvae in urban environments of Cairo Governorate, Egypt

Abstract EN

Mosquitoes were surveyed over one year period in two localities in Cairo representing different levels of urban planning: El-Muqattam (planned) and Abu-Seir (unplanned).

Culex pipiens, Cx.

perexiguus, Cx.

pusillus, Ochlerotatus caspius, Culiseta longiareolata and Anopheles multicolor were the collected species at both sites.

Mosquitoes were more common in Abu-Seir than in El-Muqattam, with larvae of the filaria vector Cx.

pipiens accounting for 81 % and 52 % of recorded individuals at these sites, respectively.

Five types of the potential breeding habitats were detected of which, the cesspits (El-Muqattam) and drainage canals (Abu-Seir) were the most common while springs in El-Muqattam and drainage canals in Abu-Seir were the most productive types.

Both Cx.

pipiens and Cx.

perexiguus bred year round with peaks of abundance coinciding with higher temperatures.