ON THE BIONOMICS OF ANOPHELES THEOBALDI GILES, 1901 (DIPTERA : CULICIDAE) IN BASTAR DISTRICT, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

Observations on the anopheline fauna of Bastar district, Madhya Pradesh, India revealed distribution of Anopheles theobaldi in 13 villages out of 105 surveyed in 1206 man/hrs. The species was noted in forests of five physiographical divisions and the elevation ranged between 152 and over 761 m. This mosquito appeared to rest out of doors in forest areas. The length and peak feeding hours varied in different seasons. The density and seasonal prevalence was noted in the North-eastern plateau with hot-moist climate having over 152 cm annual rainfall and mean temperature from 24 to 27°C and an elevation range of 609 to over 761 m. Females were not captured on human baits and human blood was also not detected in precipitin tests in mosquitoes collected from cattlesheds. None of the females dissected was infected with malaria parasites.