INTERACTION BETWEEN MAN AND AEDES SP. (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE) MOSQUITOES IN PERIURBAN ENVIRONMENTS

Abstract:
The recuperation of wetlands with high ecological value constitutes one of the major environmental goals of wildlife conservation authorities in the Region of Valencia. However, the recuperation of wetlands involves some problems such as the re-appearance of suitable habitats for the proliferation of some mosquito species and in consequence the increment of inconveniences that may affect to the inhabitants of these areas. “La Dehesa del Saler” which is a Nature Reserve, is the forest barrier that separates the lake of “La Albufera” and the Mediterranean sea along 10 km. Its wideness goes from the 250 m. in its narrowest area close to Valencia city, to a maximum of 1.5 km. Its origin is detritic with deposits of the materials which have been brought by the sea currents, ravines and rivers of the area. Detritus that have being settled through ages have been closing and isolating almost completely the lake of “La Albufera”. Some depressions are periodically flooded in a salt-marshy landscape; very suitable areas to the development of culicids, specially Aedes. As a results of the faunal study carried out in “La Dehesa de la Albufera de Valencia” the following species have been detected of: Culex (Culex) pipiens Linnaeus, 1758; Aedes (Ochlerotatus) detritus (Haliday, 1833), Aedes (Ochlerotatus) caspius (Pallas, 1771), and Culiseta (Culiseta) annulata subochrea (Edwards, 1921). It has to be emphasized that species of the genus Aedes are responsible for a high number of citizens´ reports, in relation to their diurnal and biting habits what suggests a special program for their control. But its control is rather difficult. In this essay we analyze the situation of the problem and the results of the established control program.