Scanning electron microscopy of eggs and adult body parts of Anopheles subpictus (Grassi, 1899) mosquitoes from rural areas of Hooghly, West Bengal, India.

Anopheles subpictus (Grassi, 1899) is a potent malarial vector responsible for transmission of malarial pathogens in different regions of the world. The present study was conducted to investigate different characteristic features of eggs and adult body parts of An. subpictus mosquito prevalent in Hooghly, West Bengal, India. The adult mosquitoes were collected from rural areas of Hooghly and maintained in the laboratory. Eggs and adult body parts of An. subpictus were prepared for the SEM study and observed through a scanning electron microscope. The eggs of An. subpictus were found to be single, black in color with average length and width of 499.68 ± 11.33 µm and 96.23 ± 3.0 µm, respectively. Most of the adult body parts were found to be covered with fine setae and scales of unique characteristic features. Several morphological characters of An. subpictus mosquito of Hooghly showed marked differences when compared with the same species of other geographical regions. These morphological features of different life stages of An. subpictus mosquito revealed through scanning electron microscopy will surely illuminate the current knowledge about the vector identification of the study areas, which might contribute to vector management programmes in the Hooghly district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]