Influence of Habitat Chemical Characteristics on Aedes Mosquito Breeding Preferences and Larval Survivability in Natural Environments of Kalahandi, Odisha, India

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of habitat chemical characteristics on Aedes mosquito breeding preferences and larval survivability in natural environments of Kalahandi, Odisha, through bi-monthly larval collections conducted between June and September 2025. A total of 1,127 breeding sites were surveyed across urban localities, with plastic containers identified as the most abundant (38.33%) and preferred breeding habitat, exhibiting larvae presence in 60.32 percent of cases and the highest Breeding Preference Ratio (BPR). Discarded tyres followed as significant breeding sites, accounting for 16.86 percent of habitats with a high BPR of 1.21. Chemical analysis of water from selected larval habitats (about 10%) revealed that average temperatures ranged from 29°C to 32°C, while pH values remained consistently slightly alkaline (7.21–7.92). Alkalinity was higher in natural habitats such as tree holes, whereas chlorinity was lowest in plastic containers and highest in tree holes. Dissolved oxygen (DO) levels varied considerably, with the highest concentrations observed in discarded tyres. Larval abundance differed among container types, with plastic containers supporting the greatest mean larval density (32.2 ± 14.28), followed by glass containers, tyres, earthen pots, and tree holes. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated no significant differences in adult emergence rates (F = 0.61, p = 0.66) or larval mortality (p = 0.116) across container types, indicating that container type did not significantly influence larval survival. These findings highlight the prominent role of artificial containers, particularly plastic and tyre habitats, in sustaining local Aedes populations and underscore the importance of targeted vector control strategies focusing on the management of such breeding sites. These findings can inform targeted community-based interventions to reduce artificial container habitats and control Aedes-borne diseases