Abstract
The physico-chemical and biological characteristics affecting the breeding ecology of mosquitoes in Ifedore local government area of Ondo State, Nigeria was investigated. Mosquito larvae were collected from 33 breeding sites using standard plastic dippers, transported to the laboratory and reared to adulthood. Physico-chemical characteristics, distance of each breeding site to the nearest residence and other biotic and abiotic features were determined per site. 2051 imagoes were morphologically identified including Anopheles gambiae s.l. (n=348), Aedes spp. (n=394), Culex spp. (n=1270), Mansonia spp. (n=7), Toxorhynchite spp. (n=20) and Coquillettidia spp. (n=12). Distance of breeding sites to the nearest residence ranged from 0.5 to 300 m. Temperature in all breeding sites ranged from 20.80 to 32.60°C; dissolved oxygen, 2.70 to 7.80 mg/L; total dissolved solids, 043 to 1933 ppm and pH was between 5.30-8.50. Temperature and dissolved oxygen had significant effect on all the species’ larvae, as higher values increased their presence. Each of the other physico-chemical parameters had effects on some of the mosquito species. Adequate knowledge of the physico-chemical and biological factors may help in modifying the breeding environments to curb their proliferation. Similarly, the attention of the government to provide basic amenities that would reduce the temporary breeding sites suffices. Key words: Breeding, ecological factors, Ifedore local government area, mosquitoes, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Highlights
Various species of mosquitoes are found all over Nigeria and are not restricted by change in topography across the country (Awolola et al, 2002)
Many species act as vectors of diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, West Nile virus, dengue fever, filariasis, and other arboviruses (Gatesnote, 2015). 3,500 species of mosquitoes grouped into 41 genera have been identified and many are vectors of diseases (CDC, 2015)
Various studies of larval habitats of mosquito fauna in Nigeria found that abandoned vehicle tyres, used and abandoned containers, stagnant pools, unused septic tanks etc. contained high number of these nuisance organisms that act as vectors of debilitating diseases (Adeleke at al., 2008, 2013; Afolabi et al, 2013; Idowu et al, 2014)
Summary
Various species of mosquitoes are found all over Nigeria and are not restricted by change in topography across the country (Awolola et al, 2002). According to Okorie (1978) and Mutero et al (2004), mosquitoes show preference to water with suitable pH, optimum temperature, dissolved oxygen, concentration of ammonia and nitrate These physico-chemical parameters have been found to affect larval development and survival in breeding water. The oviposition preferences of gravid females and the ability of immature stages of mosquito to survive both biotic and abiotic environmental conditions of a given aquatic habitat determine the abundance and distribution of mosquito larvae (Okogun et al, 2014). The latter will dictate endemicity of, or predisposition to, infectious agents in any locale. In Ifedore local government area of Ondo state, the ecology of breeding sites of mosquitoes was investigated to identify larva preferences of different mosquitoes across the study area
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