ASSESSMENT OF MOSQUITO DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION IN FAGGE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Diversity and distribution of mosquito species were examined between June and October, 2022 in Fagge Local Government area of Kano State. Mosquitoes were sampled monthly from fifty (50) clusters communities randomly distributed across the city using standard protocols. The mosquito habitats surveyed were tyre tracks, ditches, domestic run-offs, containers, used vehicle tyres, gutters, containers, footprints and stagnant waters within the sampling stations. The mosquitoes larvae collected were kept until adult emergence and identified using established identification keys. A total of 6559 mosquito species belonging to three genera Anopheles gambiae (70.63%) Culex quinquefasciatus (8.7%), Aedes aegypti (12.51%), and Anopheles arabiensis (8.14%) were collected. Out of these, Anopheles gambiae were the dominant species with 70.63%. September had the highest number of mosquitoes with the peak value of 1789 mosquitoes. Mosquitoes density was highest at site D with 1687(25.73%) and the lowest at site A with 983 (14.98%). The cumulative Biotic Indices analyses of Shannon-wiener Index had its highest value among A. gambiae with 2.56 and Evenness Index of 0.89. The distribution of mosquito species indicated that the mosquitoes occurred in all five clusters with the highest number of mosquitoes found at site D. The presence of these mosquitoes in the study may cause mosquito borne diseases such as malaria and yellow fever in the area. Therefore, there is need for effective mosquito control and public enlightenment on the need to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.