Biting Activity and Host Preference of the Malaria Vectors Anopheles maculatus and Anopheles sawadwongporni (Diptera: Culicidae) in Thailand

Abstract

Adult mosquitoes in the Anopheles maculatus group were surveyed from different regions of Thailand and five different species were morphologically identified, including Anopheles maculatus, Anopheles sawadwongporni, Anopheles notanandai, Anopheles dravidicus, and Anopheles willmori. Blood-feeding activity and host preference of two species, Anopheles maculatus and Anopheles sawadwongporni, were observed during a one-year period at Pu Teuy Village, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, west-central Thailand. Both species were more prevalent during the wetter period of the year and each had a greater predilection to feed on cattle than humans. Primary feeding activity occurred between 20:00-23:00 and a smaller peak at 01:00-03:00. Findings are discussed relative to the importance of these two vectors for malaria transmission in Pu Teuy.