Feeding behaviour of Cx. quinquefasciatus in tea agro-ecosystem of dibrugarh district

摘要

Feeding behaviour of Cx. quinquefaciatus, the vector of bancroftian filariasis in tea gardens of Assam was studies. Increasing areas of polluted breeding sites in the gardens like outlet drains and waste water has contributed to the increase of this vector. Further development of insecticide resistance in the backdrop of increased pesticide pressure in the tea garden ecosystem, eco-biological studies like feeding behaviour are becoming important for studying disease transmission and planning vector control strategy. Analysis of host blood from full fed wild caught resting mosquitoes showed 80.6 percent human blood feeding by female Cx. quinquefasciatus followed by bovine feeding (8.8 percent), mixture of bovine and human (2.1 percent) and avian (0.4 percent) feeding. In absence of blood female Cx. quinquefasciatus preferred to feed mostly on glucose (52 percent) followed by juice of ripe of banana (20 percent). Male Cx. quinquefasciatitus on the other hand preferred to feed mostly on juice of ripe banana (46.4 percent), followed by glucose solution (20.4 percent). Feeding behaviour was significantly different between sexes and selection of substrates. It is presumed that given sufficient natural food in the environment blood feeding can be reduced. Of course it needs further study. However, present study can serve as a base line information.