A survey of adult mosquitoes in the hostels of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

A survey of adult mosquitoes was carried out in the male and female hostels of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta using two methods: human baits and residual spray catch. Volunteered human baits were positioned indoors and outdoors (with legs exposed) once in a week from 0600-0800 hours and 1800-2000 hours between September 2000 and August 2001. A total of 10,704 Mosquitoes representing four genera - Aedes, Anopheles, Culex and Mansonia - were encountered. Of all the genera collected, Aedes (59%) was the most abundant, while Anopheles and Mansonia spp. Were the least with 13.18 and 13.15%, respectively. From the human bait catch, 4,238 and 3,666 mosquitoes were caught indoors and outdoors, respectively, of which 8.16% of the Anopheles caught were blood fed and 8.14% gravid, 70.25% of the Aedes were fed and 60.5% gravid; 56.0% of the Culex caught were fed and 69.0% gravid; 30.50% Mansonia were fed and 32.0% gravid. The indoor and outdoor catches were not significantly different P>0.001. in all, 2,800 mosquitoes were caught resting indoors of which 36.75% were Aedes spp 29.00% Anopheles sp, 24.75% were Culex and 9.5% Mansonia spp. The Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 24 2003: 167-172