## Principal Dengue Vector **Key Point:** Aedes aegypti is the primary vector for dengue transmission in urban and semi-urban areas across India and most tropical regions worldwide. ### Characteristics of Aedes aegypti | Feature | Detail | |---------|--------| | **Habitat** | Artificial water containers (coolers, tyres, flower pots, overhead tanks) | | **Biting behaviour** | Diurnal (morning and evening peaks); aggressive indoor biter | | **Resting sites** | Dark corners indoors, under furniture | | **Breeding** | Prefers clean, stagnant water; rapid breeding cycle (7–10 days) | | **Geographic range** | Tropical and subtropical regions; found up to 1000 m altitude | **High-Yield:** Aedes aegypti is anthropophilic (prefers human hosts) and endophilic (rests indoors), making it highly efficient at urban dengue transmission. ### Other Aedes Species - **Aedes albopictus** (Asian tiger mosquito): Secondary vector; found in peri-urban and rural areas; more exophilic (outdoor resting) - **Anopheles stephensi**: Malaria vector, not dengue - **Culex quinquefasciatus**: Filariasis and Japanese encephalitis vector, not dengue **Clinical Pearl:** Control of Aedes aegypti breeding sites (source reduction) is the cornerstone of dengue prevention in India, as no vaccine was widely available until recently and vector control remains the primary intervention.
Sign up free to access AI-powered MCQ practice with detailed explanations and adaptive learning.