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■Bio-mathematics, Statistics and Nano-Technologies: Mosquito Control Strategies

RKPBV 1997, CDCP 2005). These parasites can cause filariasis in human if the mosquito

is infected. When the infected mosquito is sucking blood in man the filarial worms can

get out from the infected mosquito proboscis and can get in the wound or the small hole

that the piercing-sucking mouthparts of mosquito proboscis has done until it was sucking

a blood meal. The most important vector of filarial worm is the species of Mansonia genus

(Reiter 2001, RKPBV 1997, CDCP 2005). Another very important parasite which can be

transmitted by mosquitos is malaria parasite. It is smaller than filarial worm and a very

slender parasite. The most important vector of malaria is the species of Anopheles genus

(Rohani 1999). These are a very severe infectious disease that can result in high mortality

rate in humans.

4.8.2

Viruses

Viruses many viruses can be carried and transmitted by mosquitos to human and other

mammals and other animals. Culex is the most predominant species that serve as the main

vector of Japanese Encephalitis. Aedes are the most predominant species that serve as the

main vector of Chikungunia fever, dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever, which

are the most spread viruses in Malaysia (Reiter 2001, RKPBV 1997, CDCP 2005). These

viruses can cause a very severe hemorrhagic fever disease. Aedes aegypti and Aedes al-

bopictus are the most predominant vectors in Malaysia (Reiter 2001, CDCP 2005).

4.8.3

Bacteria and other pathogens

Bacteria and other pathogens there are a lot of different bacteria and other pathogen

agent’s species worldwide that can be carried, transported and transmitted by mosquitos.

In humans these bacteria can cause very severe infectious disease with a high mortality

rate (Reiter 2001, CDCP 2005).

4.9

BITING ACTIVITY OF MOSQUITOS

Biting activity, the time and the frequency of biting activity depend on the mosquito

species, environment conditions, ecological conditions and requirements. Aedes mosquito

bites mainly in dusk hours 6 pm to 9 pm and in dawn between 6 and 8 am. Culex can bites

from 9 pm to 11 pm and sometimes during the early hours of morning. Anopheles can bite

after 11 pm, as well as the in early hours of the morning like 2 - 4 am (Reid 1968, Loong

1998). Other species of mosquitos like Mansonia, Amigeres genera etc., have different bit-

ing time and frequency (Cheong et al. 1984, 1988). Biting activity and frequency depend

on the gonotrophic cycle of mosquitos.

After the first bite eggs can develop very fast and after 2, 3 or more days depending

on the species, food, temperature, humidity (Cheong et al. 1988, Onyido et al. 2009). Eggs

are laid in the water or water surface and then the mosquito can go to feed again for an-

other blood meal. They mate just one time. The shorter the gonotrophic cycle, the shorter

the eggs’ developing time. The need for another blood meal is higher followed by high

frequency of biting activity. Female mosquitos feed on animals and humans.