Occurrence and distribution of Culex mosquito larvae in relation to breeding habitat characteristics in four communities in Minna, North- Central, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the influence of the features of selected conventional mosquito breeding habitats on the abundance of Culex mosquitoes in selected communities in Minna, Nigeria. This approach is crucial for analysing potential risks associated with these habitats and implementing effective and long-term larval source management inter- ventions in the area. The larval stages of the mosquitoes were collected systematically using the dipping method from five breeding habitat types (rain pools, septic tanks, rice fields, drainages and large water bodies) at four study sites in the study area. The physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the selected habitats were established using specific criteria. Mosquito abundance, habitat productivity, and similarities were all estimated. Five Culex mosquito species were encountered in the following decreasing order of abundance: Cx. quinquefasciatus (59.85 ± 19.24 larvae/dip) > Cx. salina- rius (31.21 ± 22.23 larvae/dip) > Cx. restuans (23.57 ± 19.24 larvae/dip) > Cx. nigripalpus (20.56 ± 17.72 larvae/dip) > Cx. tarsalis (14.29 ± 16.99 larvae/dip). Rain pools had the lowest productivity (33.48 ± 14.81 larvae per dip), while drainages produced the most (41.48 ± 17.37 larvae per dip). No mosquito larvae were found in large water bodies. The larval habitat types exhibited various degrees of similarities and differences in their characteristics. Similarly, the abundance of mosquito species showed various degrees of similarities with numerous physicochemical factors. Thus, the study revealed that the productive mosquito habitat types have characteristics that promote mosquito proliferation. This poses epidemiological risks to the population in the study area. The information generated in this study will be vital for an effective and sustain- able vector control intervention in the study area.