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VOL. 11, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Indoor resting densities and feeding behavior of malaria vectors in a malaria sentinel site in Nigeria
Authors
Nwabueze Ebere, Idorenyin Bassey Ekerette, Nioking Amadi, Greg Agbaru
Abstract
A study was conducted to determine the
mosquito vector responsible for malaria transmission in a rural malaria vector
sentinel site and to determine their behavioral pattern. The study was carried
out in Oduoha-Emohua, in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State which
represents a typical tropical rainforest. The present report represents the
findings of the 12 months of the survey carried out between the month of March
2014 and February 2015. The survey involved sampling of adult mosquitoes using
pyrethrum spray collection (PSC) and CDC light trap stationed both indoors and
outdoors. Various relevant parameters, including G.P.S. locations of the
sampling points were recorded. A total of 32 structures were sampled per month
using PSC, while 2 structures were sampled for indoor and outdoor collections
for 3 consecutive nights per month using CDC light traps. A total of 887
mosquitoes were sampled from these structures, out of these number, 822
(92.67%) were morphologically identified as female Anopheles mosquitoes while
65(7.33%) were culicine. Further identification of the Anopheline species using
the morphological key revealed that the entire Anopheles belonged to the Anopheles
gambiae complex (s.l.). Anopheles gambiae s.s. was found to account
for over 85% of Anopheles species collected in the study area of which 80.29%
was blood fed. The total number of the Anopheles gambiae collected
across the months varied significantly (P<005), the highest was obtained in
October, followed by May at the onset of the rains while the dry season months
witnessed very low collections with zero collections in January and February.
The indoor resting density followed similar trend and exceeded the critical
value of 0.05 mosquitoes per household. The range obtained varied between 1.0
and 6.7 mosquitoes per household. The value was considered high and could be
associated with epidermic situation and high level of malaria endemicity in the
zone. These mosquitoes displayed several behavioural patterns and feeding
habits. The number of indoor bitters was significantly higher than the outdoor
bitters within the period under survey. The vectors displayed high level of
endophilly and considerable level of exophilly. However, the endophilic species
had their peak activities in the night and early morning, increasing the
vector-human contact. While the outdoor bitters (exophilic) commenced their
activities earlier and had their peak biting periods before midnight in some
cases and early morning.
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Pages:254-264
How to cite this article:
Nwabueze Ebere, Idorenyin Bassey Ekerette, Nioking Amadi, Greg Agbaru "Indoor resting densities and feeding behavior of malaria vectors in a malaria sentinel site in Nigeria". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 254-264
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