Entomology, Ornithology & Herpetology: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Mosquito Surveillance (Diptera: Culicidae) From Underground Parking Lots in Urban Area in Wuhan, Central China

Tai-Ping Wu, Jun-Hua Tian, Tong-Yan Zhao, Xiao-Min Chen and Rui-De Xue

Due to urban development and underground parking lot increase, mosquito habitats in 42 urban underground parking lots (UPLs) in densely populated metropolitan areas (Jiang’an and Jianghan districts), Wuhan, central China have been investigated from August to October 2012. Out of the 42 locations 14 were served for business properties and institutions (BPI) and 28 served for property management residential areas (PMRA). Five representative potential habitats were sampled and immature mosquitoes were founded from 40 (95%) UPLs, included 12 (86%) UPLs from BPI and 28 UPLs from PMRA. The percentages of UPLs with the collections of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say, Culex pipiens molestus and Aedes albopitus Skuse were 88%, 36% and 60%, respectively. Immature mosquitoes were collected from 118 out of the 204 standing water habitats sampled (58%). The most abundant positive habitats were cisterns (n=83), followed by ditches (n=29). The proportion of mosquito positive habitats was significantly higher in UPLs for PMRA (64%) than for BPI (46%). Building UPLs in populous areas of city leads to mosquito breeding and may increase the risk of mosquito borne diseases. This study suggests that local mosquito control programs in developmental and high density cities should focus on the surveillance and control of the breeding sites in UPLs.