Anopheles tnaculatus (Theobald) and Anopheles elegans (James) breeding in water storage containers in Kandy, Sri Lanka

A three month survey was carried out from August to October 2001 to identify anopheline mosquito breeding in artificial water storage containers in the Kandy District, Sri Lanka. Water storage tanks and barrels in 28 study sites covering 57 villages in 11 Divisional Director of Health Services (DDHS) areas were examined for mosquito immatures (larval instars and pupae). Anopheles ntaculatus (Theobald) and A. elegans (James) were shown to breed in these containers. Although these species are not known vectors of human malaria in Sri Lanka A. maculatus is a vector in neighboring countres. Also this species has been shown to support the sporogonic cycle of P. falciparum, in the laboratory; thus is considered as a potential vector of human malaria in Sri Lanka. With the impending water shortages, water storage in containers is bound to increase in the future. Thus condidering water storage containers as breeding places of potential vectors of human malaria is important in malaria control in Sri Lanka.