## Vector Identification **Key Point:** Aedes aegypti is the primary vector for dengue virus transmission in India and most tropical/subtropical regions worldwide. ### Characteristics of Aedes aegypti | Feature | Detail | |---------|--------| | **Habitat** | Urban and periurban areas; breeds in stagnant water (flower pots, tyres, containers) | | **Biting behavior** | Diurnal (daytime); aggressive daytime feeder | | **Resting sites** | Indoor, dark corners; under furniture | | **Appearance** | Small mosquito with white markings on legs and thorax | | **Flight range** | Limited (50–100 m from breeding site) | **High-Yield:** Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) is a secondary vector in some regions but Aedes aegypti remains the principal vector in India. **Clinical Pearl:** The urban distribution of Aedes aegypti explains why dengue is primarily an urban disease in India, with outbreaks occurring in monsoon and post-monsoon seasons when water stagnation is maximal. ### Why Other Vectors Are Not Dengue Vectors - **Anopheles stephensi:** Malaria vector; does not transmit dengue - **Culex quinquefasciatus:** Filaria and Japanese encephalitis vector; not a dengue vector - **Mansonia uniformis:** Filaria vector; not involved in dengue transmission
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