Bionomics of vector anophelines in District Naini Tal, Uttar Pradesh

Breeding behaviour and seasonal prevalence of vector anopheline in different habitats associated with rice land agroecosystem of terai and bhabar area of District Naini Tal was studied from July 1992 to June 1994. Adult prevalence in both the areas shows two distinct An. fluviatilis peaks in the months of March and October and the breeding places for the species were pokhars in bhabar and stream and irrigation drains in terai. Prevalence of adult An. culicifacies was observed during July to August in bhabar and April and August in terai. In bhabar high immature density of An. culicifacies was noted mainly in tanks, pokhars and paddy fields (early transplantation period). In terai high immature density of An. culicifacies was noted in stream, while low in paddy fields. Higher prevalence of immatures and adult anopheline vectors coincide with peak malaria incidence in both the areas. In bhabar in the months of August and September large number of malaria cases were contributed by An. culicifacies and in November by An. fluviatilis. In terai, malaria cases in April and from June to September were contributed by An. culicifacies, whereas An. fluviatilis might be responsible for transmission in October.