The Bioscientist (May 2013)
Survey of Open Larval Habitats of Mosquitoes in Four Communities in Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria
Abstract
Larval survey of open habitats of mosquitoes was carried out May-July 2011 in the wet season and December 2011-February 2012 in the dry season in 3 communities in Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State. The collection of larvae of mosquitoes was done using dipper and pipette. Five larval habitats of mosquitoes namely ground pools, drains/gutter, used tyres, discarded domestic containers and leaf axils were identified in the wet season while only ground pool was identified in the dry season. A total of 380 larvae of mosquitoes belonging to three genera and five species were collected and identified. These were Aedes aegypti 39.2% (149/380), Culex quinquefasciatus 30.3% (115/380), Culex tigripes 14.0% (53/380), Anopheles gambiae 13.7% (52/380), and Anopheles funestus 2.9% (11/380). In the wet season survey, Culex quinquefasciatus had the highest distribution in ground pools (36.7%) followed by Anopheles gambiae (33.7%); In drains/gutters, Culex tigripes had the highest distribution of 37.9% followed by A. aegypti and other species; In used tyres, only larvae of A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus were identified; Similar result was obtained for domestic discarded containers where A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus were collected. The larvae of mosquitoes found in tree leaf axils were only C. tigripes. The result also showed that Anopheles gambiae and A. funestus bred only in ground pools and drains/gutters. Only larvae of Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus were identified in the dry season survey. There was no statistical difference (p>0.05) in identified larval habitats and among species of mosquitoes in various larval habitats in the wet season. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in larval distribution in wet and dry seasons.
