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Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2012 | Volume: 12 | Issue: 3 | Page No.: 186-191
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Authors

I.K. Olayemi

B. Idris

I.C.J. Omalu

O.M. Odeyemi

Keywords

Research Article

Dry Season Refugia Breeding Ecology of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Minna, North Central Nigeria

I.K. Olayemi, B. Idris, I.C.J. Omalu and O.M. Odeyemi
This study was carried out in Minna, Nigeria, to elucidate the dry season breeding ecology of mosquitoes in the area thus, providing a basis for all-year-round effective implementation of informed larviciding interventions. Mosquito larvae were sampled bi-weekly between the hours of 0800 and 1100 from randomly selected larval breeding habitats in the city, using a 350 mL capacity Dipper. The physical characteristics of the selected habitats were evaluated and related to larval productivity. The results indicated that Anopheles mosquitoes constituted 55.00% of all larvae collected, followed by Culex (36.29%) and Aedes (17.49%). The patterns of mean monthly density distribution of the three mosquito Genera were similar, i.e., decreasing significantly (p<0.05) from the beginning to the end of the dry season. The mosquito types showed significant (p<0.05) preferences for certain habitats, with Anopheles and Aedes preferring the Drains (24.40±5.13 and 14.20±5.12 larvae/sampling day, respectively) and Culex mosquitoes encountered more frequently in the Swamps (16.80±6.22 larvae/sampling day). The Drains were the most productive habitats, accounting for over 50% larval production during the period, distantly followed by the Swamp (31.60±16.38 larvae/sampling day) while, the densities of larvae in the Wells and Rivers were significantly low (7.40±7.79 and 3.40±5.24 larvae/sampling day, respectively). Again, in terms of physical attributes, the Drains were the most ideal habitat for larval development, been relatively small (diameter = 2.30±0.00 m); most shallow (depth = 0.14±0.01 m); warmest (27.52±0.48°C) and nearest to human habitations (2.80±0.00 m). The epidemiological implications of these results were discussed and concluded that targeting dry season larviciding interventions at the productive larval breeding habitats will go a long way in reducing the menace of mosquito-borne diseases in Minna.
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Comments

Abdullahi Ahmed Yusuf Reply

This is a very interesting study which provides insights into the ecology of mosquitoes in Minna North Central Nigeria. Results from such a study often comes in handy as baselines for applying or starting intervention programmes. We need such studies (especially on a long term) on the indigenous mosquito fauna in Nigeria where cases of malaria morbidity and mortality are high.

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