Some ecological attributes of malarial vector Anopheles superpictus Grassi in endemic foci in southeastern Iran

Objective:To determine the bionomics and susceptibility status of the malarial vector Anopheles superpictus(An.superpictus)to different insecticides in the Sistan-Baluchestan province which has the highest malarial prevalence in Iran.Methods:Different sampling methods,in addition to scoring abdominal conditions,were used to define the seasonal activity and endo/exophilic behavior of this species.In addition,the standard WHO susceptibility tests were applied on adult field strains.Results:Most adult mosquitoes were collected from outdoor shelters.The peak of seasonal activity of An.superpictus occurred at the end of autumn.Most larvae were collected from natural and permanent breeding places with full sunlight and no vegetation.Blood feeding activities occurred around midnight.Compared with the abdominal conditions of adult mosquitoes collected indoors,the abdominal conditions of adult mosquitoes collected outdoors were gravid and seniigravid.This species was suspected to be resistant to DDT,but was susceptible to other insecticides.Conclusions:An.superpictus was present in almost all outdoor shelters,and the ratios of gravid,semigravid/unfed,and freshly fed confirmed that this species had a higher tendency to rest outdoors than indoors.This behavior can protect An.superpictus from indoor residual spraying in this malarious area.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first report on the susceptibility status of An.superpictus in Southeastern Iran.We do not suggest the use of DDT for indoor residual spraying in southeast Iran.

Fauna and some biological characteristics of Anopheles mosquitoes(Diptera:Culicidae) in Kalaleh County,Golestan Province,northeast of Iran

Objective:To determine fauna and some ecological aspects of Anopheles mosquitoes in northeast of Iran.Methods:In this descriptive study,3 villages in Kalaleh County were selected in different geographical zones.Anopheles mosquitoes were collected biweekly from May to October using standard dipping method for larvae,and hand catch,total catch,artificial pit shelter as well as night-biting collections on human and animal baits for adults.Results:Totally 399 larvae and 2 602 adults of Anopheles mosquitoes were collected and identified as 2 species:Anopheles superpictus s.l.(An.superpictus s.l.) and Anopheles maculipennis s.l.The dominant species was An.superpictus s.l.(92.1%).Activity of these mosquitoes found to be started from middle of May and extended till September with two peaks of activity in July and August.Conclusions:An.superpictus s.l.as one of the main malaria vectors in Iran as well as some other parts of the world is the dominant species in the study area.This species has high potential for transmission and possibility of establishing a transmission cycle with low abundance.Other species,Anopheles maculipennis s.l.also has introduced as a malaria vector in northern parts of Iran.As this Anopheles is a complex species,genetic studies are recommended to determine the members of this complex in the study area.