Dynamics of Mosquito Populations in Natural and Artificial Phytotelmata from Southern West Bengal, India

The phytotelma is a small, isolated, collected water body in a living or dead plant part of a terrestrial ecosystem. The ecosystem in phytotelmata supports the nourishment and development of various organisms and acts as an important breeding ground for disease-spreading vector mosquitoes. The present study deals with the occurrence of mosquito species in various phytotelmata of southern West Bengal in India. The natural phytotelmata are decreased day-by-day from human habitation and some artificial phytotelmata are mimicking the natural phytotelmata. The results of the study state that the artificial telmata are more available and accessible in the post-monsoon period (months of September to November) for developing the bamboo super-structure or pandals in various festivals. These artificial phytotelmata effectively promote the development of the different life stages of different mosquitoes (e.g., Anopheles sp, Aedes sp, etc.) for which the vector-borne diseases (e.g., dengue, malaria) become endemic in North 24 Parganas and its adjacent areas during the post-monsoon period of festivals. The study demonstrates that the mosquito surveillance data in natural and artificial phytotelmata can be used to predict seasonal mosquito abundance, and it may provide guidance for the public health authorities for vector control measures to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases in study areas.