~ 669 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2020; 8(2): 669-677 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 www.entomoljournal.com JEZS 2020; 8(2): 669-677 © 2020 JEZS Received: 19-01-2020 Accepted: 23-02-2020 Prabhakargouda B Patil Gangabishan Bhikulal Investment and Trading Limited (GBIT), Jalna-Aurangabad, Dawalwadi, Badnapur, Jalna, Maharashtra, India Shaibal Kumar Dasgupta Gangabishan Bhikulal Investment and Trading Limited (GBIT), Jalna-Aurangabad, Dawalwadi, Badnapur, Jalna, Maharashtra, India Seshu Reddy KV Gangabishan Bhikulal Investment and Trading Limited (GBIT), Jalna-Aurangabad, Dawalwadi, Badnapur, Jalna, Maharashtra, India Bharat Char Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Private Limited (MAHYCO), Jalna-Aurangabad Road, Dawalwadi, Badnapur, Jalna, Maharashtra State, India Usha B Zehr Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Private Limited (MAHYCO), Jalna-Aurangabad Road, Dawalwadi, Badnapur, Jalna, Maharashtra, India Shirish R Barwale Gangabishan Bhikulal Investment and Trading Limited (GBIT), Jalna-Aurangabad, Dawalwadi, Badnapur, Jalna, Maharashtra, India Corresponding Author: Prabhakargouda B Patil Gangabishan Bhikulal Investment and Trading Limited (GBIT), Jalna-Aurangabad, Dawalwadi, Badnapur, Jalna, Maharashtra, India Surveillance of Aedes mosquito species in villages of Jalna district, Maharashtra, India Prabhakargouda B Patil, Shaibal Kumar Dasgupta, Seshu Reddy KV, Bharat Char, Usha B Zehr and Shirish R Barwale Abstract Monthly ovitrap surveillance was conducted in ten villages of Jalna district, Maharashtra, India to study the presence and seasonal abundance of Aedes vector species. Ovitraps were installed indoors and outdoors in randomly selected locations, and the eggs retrieved from the positive ovitraps were hatched and reared for identification of the species. Total 4310 ovitraps were recovered with 1088 positive ovitraps, and the species found were Ae. Aegypti , Ae. Albopictus, and Ae. Vittatus. Ovitrap index of Ae. Aegypti was found to be significantly higher compared to Ae. Albopictus and Ae. Vittatus, and the monthly mean ovitrap index ranged between 7.4% to 53.0%, 0.3% to 12.7% and 0.3% to 1.0% respectively with no significant difference between indoor and outdoor ovitraps (P>0.05). Our observations revealed dengue vector Ae. Aegypti to be predominant species throughout the year in the study sites and its breeding association with human habitat. This study was undertaken, in concurrent to our phased evaluation studies on genetically engineered OX513A Ae. Aegypti strain, to generate baseline data on natural population of Ae. Aegypti for selection of test sites to demonstrate suppression of Ae. Aegypti population by sustained releases of OX513A strain male adults under open field conditions in future. In addition, our observations contribute to the knowledge on seasonal abundance of Aedes mosquito species to strategize for vector mosquito management in rural areas. Keywords: Aedes Aegypti , Aedes Albopictus, Aedes Vittatus, ovitrap, dengue, chikungunya, zika Introduction Aedes mosquitoes are well known for transmission of arboviral diseases like dengue, chikungunya, zika and the yellow fever. Aedes Aegypti L. mosquito has historically been the primary vector responsible for transmission of dengue disease in India and worldwide, followed by Aedes Albopictus Skuse. Species considered as a secondary vector for transmitting the disease [1-2] . These two endemic vectors have different origins, Ae. Aegypti originating from African forests while Ae. Albopictus from South Asia forest and both have invaded worldwide. Although their short flight range is a limitation factor for migration, the rapid population growth, international trading and the ability of the Aedes eggs to undergo diapause and withstand desiccation have facilitated migration over long distances [3] . Ae. Aegypti is anthropophilic in nature seeking human blood from multiple individuals in short periods of time increasing their ability to spread the disease and potential transmission of disease [4] . Currently the global distribution of dengue disease is comparable to that of malaria, with transmission occurring in 128 countries and an estimated 4 billion people live at risk for epidemic transmission with 50-100 million cases reported every year [5-8] . In India, the number of dengue cases and severity of the disease has significantly increased since 2001. In addition to the increasing number of dengue cases, the geographical range of the disease has expanded from urban to rural regions [9] . Effective surveillance and monitoring of vector mosquito population is one of the crucial steps to understand the level of infestation in a particular locality for planning and managing the vector population well below the disease transmission threshold level [10] . Additionally, surveillance provides information for developing risk assessment, which in turn could be used to qualitatively or quantitatively predict the occurrence of vector-borne diseases or pest outbreaks [11-12] . Ovitrap is one among the cost-effective and sensitive tool recommended for surveillance, differentiating infestation levels, monitoring or prediction of disease out-break, and to assess impact of any control measures implemented [13-14] . Moreover, use of ovitrap for surveillance is considered to be more sensitive approach even during low levels of vector