PRELIMINARY SURVEY OF MOSQUITOES AT UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI CAMPUS STUDENT HOSTEL

ABSTRACT The risk of contracting mosquito-borne disease if bitten by an infected mosquito makes the presence of mosquitoes in educational settings a serious concern to the health of both staff and students. Thus, a survey was carried out to determine the various mosquito species and breeding sites within the student hostel University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, between January and February , 2024. The survey was carried out in the breeding sites of the mosquitoes which included stagnant pools of water, drainages, gutters and discarded containers. Dippers and scoops were used to sample mosquito larvae in their various breeding sites, pasteur pipette was used to count mosquito larvae. Three genera were identified which were the Anopheles, Aedes and Culex spp. A total of 1,115 larvae were sampled from six locations, three locations from the female hostels and three locations from the male hostels of the campus. The abundance of mosquitoes was more in female hostel 785 (69.4%), than male hostel 370 (32.7%). The distribution of the three genera Anopheles, Aedes and Culex spp at the hostels: at female hostel, Aedes sp. 400 (50.9%) is the more abundant than Culex sp. 337 (42.9%) while Anopheles sp. has the least abundance with 48 (6.11%). While at male hostel the number of mosquitoes with highest number of species was Culex sp. 186 (50.2%) followed by Aedes sp. 179 (48.3%), with Anopheles sp. being the least abundant 5 (1.35%). Therefore, the mean abundance of mosquitoes between male and female hostels showed a significant difference. This study has provided information on larval habitats of mosquitoes in the hostels of University of Maiduguri, in the dry season. Student activities, inadequate sensitization, and poor sanitation are the major factors creating breeding sites for mosquitoes in the hostels. Keywords: Breeding sites (Hostels), Aedes, Culex, Anopheles spp.