Identification Anopheles plumbeus Stephens 1828 in the forest area of Amol district, Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran

Background: Many human vector-borne diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, West Nile fever, lymphatic filariasis are transmitted by mosquitoes.Understanding and a good knowledge of the relevant biology and ecology of mosquitoes are very important in the vector control. Anopheles plumbeus has been recognized as a minor vector for human malaria in many parts of the world. In forest area,the mosquito larval habitats were including permanent or temporary water, stream margins, and tree holes Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the Anopheline fauna in larval habitats (including: forest stream and stream margins)the forest area of Amol district, Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran.Materials and Methods: The forest area of Amol was located at the Hyrcanian forests with vegetation covering such as Buxus sempervirens, Gleditsia caspica. Larvae mosquitoes were collected using standard 350 ml dipper from forest stream and stream margins . Sampling took place from May to September 2019. Samples were identified to the species level using valid identification keys.Results: Totally , 450 anopheles larvae were collected from forest stream and stream margins including three species Anopheles hyrcanus, An.plumbeus, An. maculipennis s.l.Conclusion: The transmission of vector-borne pathogens is greatly influenced by the ecology of their vector. Climate changes can influence how infectious diseases spread by vectors like mosquitoes, vector populations, species composition and diversity of mosquitoes. Also,Due to roles Anopheles in transmission of diseases, it is necessary to determine fauna and ecology of vectors as mosquitoes and its relationship to disease agents transmission in different ecological area.Therefore, it is recommended that in further studies should be undertaken to determine ecology of Iraninan Culicidae Hyrcanian forests

Keywords:

Mosquitoes , Anopheles , Hyrcanian forests , Amol