DIVERSITY OF MOSQUITOES (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE) AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THEIR LARVAL HABITATS IN TIZI-OUZOU AREA, ALGERIA.

Many mosquito species are considered as vectors of several pathogens responsible of serious infectious diseases including Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunia and Rift Valley Fever. The characterization of the larval habitat of these arthropods is an important step for a nuisance/vector control program. In this study we aimed to identify mosquito larvae species in the Tizi-Ouzou area (north-central of Algeria) and to examine the physico-chemical parameters of their permanent breeding sites. Surveys are carried out during the dry and rainy seasons (2018/2019), the larval stages of the mosquitoes were sampled using the dipping technique and the physico-chemical parameters of the breeding sites were measured. The morphotaxonomic examination of the Culicidae samples allowed the identification of 14 species belonging to five genera and two subfamilies. Interestingly, Culex pipiens was the most abundant species found in all entomological surveys. Moreover, Culex pipiens and Culiseta longiareolata species showed high ecological plasticity and were the best correlated species to the studied physico-chemical parameters. Temperature was positively correlated with the density of most inventoried species. Our data would be of great interest in the context of developing a nuisance control program and the prevention of vector-borne diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]