title: Occurrence of Culex vishnui group of mosquitoes in the rural areas of a desert district (Bikaner).
abstract: Two important mosquito vectors viz., C. pseudovishnui and C. tritaeneorhynchus have been studied with respect to their occurrence, breeding and peculiar resting habitats in the desert district of Bikaner, Rajasthan. Resting habitats such as depressions made on the walls of rain water ponds by water current and breeding habitats like agricultural wells are reported. The abiotic ecological conditions peculiar to desert like saline water, pH and high temperature were correlated with species densities. Combined effect of temperature and relative humidity on species population of adults showed trend of preference of species towards high relative humidity-temperature combinations. More larval breeding in water during August was observed. High larval density was found in the alkaline pH range of 8.6 to 9.2.
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Research Centre, Jodhpur.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bansal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D003465:Culex / Q000502:physiology*; D003889:Desert Climate; D006813:Humidity; D007194:India; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature