Anophelinel vectors in car nicobar islands-an area with negligible malaria

Anopheline larvae exhibited seasonal variations in their abundance, with per dip density ranging from 0.013± 0.002 to 0.309± 0.088. Peak larval density coincided with high rainfall. The abundance was maximum in breeding sites viz., water storage tanks, kutcha drains, culverts and cess pools with a per dip density of 0.283± 0.070, 0.274± 0.068, 0.260± 0.137 and 0.199± 0.059, respectively. Larval density was maximum in the transient water bodies formed during the monsoon, with early instars (59.71%) being always more compared to the late ones (40.29%). Two species were identified-An. sundaicus (95.8%) and An. barbirostris (3.2%), with the former being found in a wide range of habitats, and the latter always less, which could be the reason for negligible malaria cases.