title: Larval habitat characterization of Anopheles darlingi from its northernmost geographical distribution in Chiapas, Mexico.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anopheles darlingi is considered the most efficient malaria vector in the Neotropical region. In Mexico, its role as an incriminated vector of Plasmodium has not been confirmed in the Lacandon forest. Similarly, knowledge about bionomic and larval ecology is scarce. The study aim was to identify and describe the larval habitats of An. darlingi in Chiapas, México.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard larval collections were performed in the Lacandon forest region and in the Soconusco region of southern Chiapas from January 2010 to April 2014, including dry and rainy seasons. Mean larval density of An. darlingi was estimated according to hydrological types, and associations between the presence of An. darlingi and environmental factors including ecological parameters and geographic positions were statistically analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and twelve aquatic habitats were analysed, 80 from the Lacandon forest region and 32 from the Soconusco region; 94.64% of these sites presented anopheline larvae. In total, 10,977 larvae belonging to 11 Anopheles species were collected. The 19 (out of 112) larval habitats positive to An. darlingi were: rain puddles (26.32%), ground pools (21.05%), ponds (15.79%), ditches (15.79%), river margins (10.53%) and streams (10.53%). Overall, the average (±SD) larval density was 6.60 ± 2.41 larvae per dip. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that temporary habitats, green algae presence and stagnant water were associated with An. darlingi larval presence. The positive habitats were found in the Lacandon forest region during the rainy season (May-September). No specimens were found in the Soconusco region of the coastal plain of Chiapas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mosquito An. darlingi larval habitats were found in different hydrological types. The habitat stability, presence of algae and water current were the main factors for An. darlingi larval occurrence. The information on the characteristics of the larval habitats of An. darlingi will be useful in sustainable programmes for malaria control in the Lacandon forest region, Chiapas.
authors.affiliation: Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública/Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (CRISP/INSP), 19 Poniente y 4ta Avenida Norte, C.P. 30700, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. cvilla@insp.mx.
authors.forename: Cuauhtémoc
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Villarreal-Treviño
authors.affiliation: Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública/Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (CRISP/INSP), 19 Poniente y 4ta Avenida Norte, C.P. 30700, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. penilla@insp.mx.
authors.forename: R Patricia
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Penilla-Navarro
authors.affiliation: Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública/Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (CRISP/INSP), 19 Poniente y 4ta Avenida Norte, C.P. 30700, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. mguadalu@insp.mx.
authors.forename: M Guadalupe
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública/Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (CRISP/INSP), 19 Poniente y 4ta Avenida Norte, C.P. 30700, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. david.moo@insp.mx.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Moo-Llanes
authors.affiliation: Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública/Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (CRISP/INSP), 19 Poniente y 4ta Avenida Norte, C.P. 30700, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. jcrios@insp.mx.
authors.forename: Jana C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ríos-Delgado
authors.affiliation: Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública/Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (CRISP/INSP), 19 Poniente y 4ta Avenida Norte, C.P. 30700, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. ildefonso.fernandez@insp.mx.
authors.forename: Ildefonso
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fernández-Salas
authors.affiliation: Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública/Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (CRISP/INSP), 19 Poniente y 4ta Avenida Norte, C.P. 30700, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. americo@insp.mx.
authors.forename: Américo D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000254:growth & development*; D017753:Ecosystem; D007303:Insect Vectors; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008800:Mexico; D011156:Population Density; D012621:Seasons