spatial distribution, seasonal abundance and physio-chemical assessment of mosquito larval breeding sites in mardan district, khyber pakhtunkhwa, pakistan

Background: mosquitoes (diptera: culicidae) are haemotophagus insects and are vectors of many arthropod-bornediseases. present study aimed to explore species composition, seasonal abundance, spatial distribution and physiochemicalproperties of larval breeding sites of mosquitoes in district mardan, khyber pakhtunkhwa, pakistan.methods: both adults and larvae of mosquitoes were collected through light traps, insecticide spray, mouth aspiratorand larval standard dipping method in district mardan from may to november 2017. water samples from larval siteswere physio-chemically analysed.results: 5078 (3704 adults and 1374 larvae) mosquito specimens were collected in mardan, katlang and takhtbhaitehsils. six species in four genera were reported. culex pipiens (89.80%) and armigeres subalbatus (9.20%) were themost abundant species. diversity was high in takhtbhai (0.29) followed by katlang (0.28) and mardan (0.25). greaternumber of specimens were recorded in peridomestic sites (93.97%) as compared to domestic habitats (6.03%). culexpipiens larval abundance had negative correlation with ph whereas it correlated positively with electric conductivity,salinity, and tds (total dissolved sulphur). mosquito abundance peaked in august and july while the lowest was inmay. their monthly abundance had positive correlation with rainfall (r= 0.5069), relative humidity (r= 0.4439) and meanminimum temperature (r= 0.2866). number of mosquitoes was highest at low elevation < 347m asl (above sea level) inagriculture land and near to water bodies (streams).conclusion: culex pipiens being the most abundant species, was susceptible to high ph. mosquitoes preferred habitatswere at low elevation in agriculture land.