Mosquitoes collected on Weno Island, Romanum Island and Piis-Paneu Island, Chuuk State, the Federated States of Micronesia (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Mosquito larval surveys were carried out on Weno Island, Romanum Island and Piis-Paneu Island, in Chuuk State, the Federated States of Micronesia in August 2011. Larvae were collected from 133 natural and artificial habitats. A total of 1,761 larvae belonging to nine species including one unidentified species were collected. On Weno Island, eight species, Aedes hensilli, Ae. albopictus, Ae. lamelliferus, Aedes sp., Culex quinquefasciatus, Cx. carolinensis, Cx. annulirostris and Lutzia vorax, were collected. Four species were collected on Romanum Island; Ae. scutoscriptus, Ae. hensilli, Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. carolinensis and six species were collected on Piis-Paneu Island; Ae. scutoscriptus, Ae. hensilli, Aedes sp., Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. carolinensis and Cx. annulirostris. We determined that 1) Ae. albopictus and Lt. vorax were newly reported in Chuuk State, 2) Ae. hesilli was the predominant species on both Weno Island and Piis-Paneu Island and distributed in Romanum Island and 3) that Ae. albopictus existed on Weno Island. Environmental management program seeks to alter the environment to prevent to minimize vector propagation and human contact with the vector-pathogen. Recommended changes to the environment include destroying, altering, removing or recycling nonessential containers that provide larval habitats for these species of mosquitoes.