Biting rhythm of the vectors of Malayan filariasis, Mansonia annulifera, M. uniformis & M. indiana in Shertallai (Kerala state), India.

Biting activity of Mansonioides mosquitoes through all night collections for a period of two years in Shertallai region, in south India was studied. M. annulifera bites uniformly throughout the night, with two peaks of activity, one after midnight (24.00-01.00 h) and another before dawn (04.00-05.00 h). M. uniformis was found to be predominantly dusk biting, with its peak of activity between 1800 to 1900 h. M. indiana showed two peaks of biting activity one after dusk (2000-2100 h) and another before dawn (0300-0400 h). All biting, with its peak of activity between 1800 to 1900 h. M. indiana showed two peaks of biting activity one after dusk (2000-2100 h) and another before dawn (0300-0400 h). All these species following a particular pattern of activity cycles discerned the biting rhythm of Mansonioides mosquitoes to be species-specific.