Larval habitat characteristics and physicochemical associations of culicine mosquito assemblages in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran

Understanding the ecological characteristics of mosquito larval habitats is essential for effective vector surveillance and control. This study investigated larval habitat characteristics, water physicochemical properties, and culicine mosquito assemblages in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from September 2016 to April 2017 across four counties representing diverse ecological conditions. Larvae were collected from natural and artificial aquatic habitats and identified morphologically using standard taxonomic keys. Water samples were analyzed for physicochemical parameters, including temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), and major ionic constituents. A total of 3236 larvae belonging to 16 species from three genera ( Aedes , Culex , and Culiseta ) were collected. Culiseta longiareolata (25.65%), Culex pipiens (16.62%), and Cx. quinquefasciatus (16.16%) were the dominant species. Most larvae were collected from artificial stagnant habitats characterized by sandy substrates, limited vegetation, and full sunlight exposure. Larval abundance was highest in habitats with water temperatures of 20–30 °C and pH values of 6.5–7.5. Several physicochemical variables, including EC, TDS, TSS, and ionic composition, were associated with species occurrence patterns. These findings provide baseline ecological evidence regarding environmental conditions associated with culicine mosquito breeding habitats in Hormozgan Province. Within a One Health framework, integrating environmental habitat assessment with vector surveillance may improve identification of productive larval habitats and support targeted larval source management strategies.