Reappraisal on anopheline mosquitoes of Garhwal region, Uttarakhand, India

The study examines occurrence of anopheline mosquitoes in seven districts--Dehradun, Pauri, New Tehri, Hardwar, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi of Garhwal region in Uttarakhand state, India.

The methodological approach comprised sampling and processing of adult/immature mosquitoes, data compilation, meteorological information and parasitological survey.

A total of 87 localities covering 24 tehsils/blocks were surveyed during January 2000 to December 2005 for mosquito sampling. The study encountered 18 species of anophelines including three malaria vectors namely Anopheles culicifacies, An. fluviatilis and An. stephensi collected from Kalsi, Dehradun City, Sahaspur, Hardwar town, Roorkee, New Tehri town and Kotdwar localities. An. pallidus has been recorded for the first time from the Garhwal region. All the collected species have been presented with particular reference to their both adult and immature distribution, brief account of bionomics and some ecological notes.

Out of 18 collected anopheline species, 15 were non-vectors and they were found to create nuisance to the inhabitants. As far as the species distribution was concerned the diversity was more at elevation between 150 and 1000 m above the mean sea level, while the immature of some species were not recovered from those localities where their adults were collected. Certain species of Anopheles were climate determined and their distribution was localized while some others were cosmopolitan.