| Abstrakt: |
Little is known about the occurrence and distribution of arthropods of medical and veterinary importance in Jordan. Mosquitoes vectoring the causal agents of human malaria are probably the only species satisfactorily studied. Reported here are records of Tabanidae from marshes of the Azraq Oasis, the only permanent body of water in the Jordanian desert, some 100 km east of Amman. The marshes receive water from 2 large freshwater springs in the oasis. The salinity of water in the marshes where tabanid larvae were observed ranged from 0.69–2.72 g/liter depending on the nature of the soil, season of examination (highest during summer) and distance from the springs. Animals including cattle, camels, sheep and horses are raised in the area or are brought in by Bedouins for water and grazing. Animals graze in the marshes all year round. |
