PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MOSQUITO AQUATIC BREEDING PLACES IN KUWAIT STATE

Abstract:
Certain physical and chemical factors in mosquito larval aquatic habitat, in relation to larval species distribution were studied in different ecosystems of Kuwait State. Ten types of breeding places were found in the different ecological areas of Kuwait State. These were animal watering basins, seepage of water from agriculture and animal enclosures conditioning, swamps due to mixed storm and sewerage water with Gulf water, manure fermentation basins, water irrigation channels, storm drains, sewerage manholes, inspection chambers, artificial lakes with stagnant water and fountains. Physical properties including depth of water, width, turbidity, temperature, vegetation and light in these mosquito larvae breeding places in relation larval species are explained in the manuscript. As regards to chemical factors in larval breeding water, larvae of all mosquito species in Kuwait State are mostly alkalinophile (pH 6.27 to 9.78 in storm drains only). Culex pipiens complex larvae in the country tolerate comparatively higher organic materials as indicated from nitrogen compounds, and BOD in breeding sited as compared with Anopheles stephensi and An. pulcherrimus larvae. Aedes caspius larvae associated with Cs. pipiens complex tolerate higher salinity ranging from 0.2-30%. For C.Y. tritaeniorhynchusand Anopheles larvae, the value were 0.3-6.6% and 0.25-0.7%, respectively, indicating graduation of mosquito fauna from brackish to fresh water.