Dominance and change in the numbers of mosquito larvae of the biting mosquitoes sub-family (Culicinae) in the Szigetköz region

Abstract

In the region of Szigetköz (North-West Hungary) mosquito larvae were regularly collected at 64 sites in 16 villages of 4 districts every week between 1-30 September, 1999. As a result we identified the larvae of 19 mosquito species, among them 93.68% were Aedes vexans Meig. and 5.11% were Culex pipiens pipiens L. The numbers of the mosquito larvae to be collected at site proves the heterogenity of the biotops in the districts. We collected 5718 larvae in district I, 2401 larvae in district II, 1170 in district III, 232 344 in district IV. District IV reflects the effect of the Danube floods i.e. the flood area was overflown with perched water and the water temperatures often rose above 30 °C. These factors contributed to the dominance of Aedes vexans. Regular inspections, the knowledge of the species and the identification of the larvae development enabled us to set the date of optimal biological protection.