Integrative Morphological and Molecular Classification of Culex vishnui Larvae from Diverse Ecological Habitats of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Mosquito-borne infections remain critical global health challenges in tropical regions. Culex vishnui is recognized as a principal vector of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) across Asia. The present study integrates morphological and molecular tools to classify C. vishnui larvae from varied ecological habitats in Uttar Pradesh, India. Larvae were collected from rice fields, ponds, marshes, and drains during post-monsoon months. Environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, and conductivity were recorded at each site. Morphological identification followed standard keys by Bram and Harbach, while COI gene sequencing confirmed species identity. Results revealed highest larval density in rice fields and minimal density in drains. A clear inverse correlation was observed between electrical conductivity and larval abundance. Molecular analysis indicated 99.2–99.8 % COI similarity with C. vishnui sequences in GenBank. Comparative evaluation with literature from 2018– 2025 supported these findings and confirmed ecological consistency across Asian landscapes. The integrative methodology established morphological–molecular coherence, improving accuracy in vector taxonomy and providing valuable insight for Japanese Encephalitis control programs.