Assessment of Physico-Chemical and Ecological Variables in Selected Natural Breeding Sites of Mosquitoes in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Mosquito belongs to the family Culicidae, order Diptera. Over 3,000 known species had been identified. The family Culicidae is a large, abundant, well-known and important group of flies. The early stages; egg, larval and pupal are aquatic. Mosquito larvae or wigglers are found in variety of aquatic situations such as ponds, pools, water in artificial containers, in tree holes with each species occurring in particular type of aquatic habitat [1,2]. The larvae of most species feed on algae and organic debris but a few are predaceous and feed on other mosquito larvae.When considering human welfare, mosquitoes are important because the females of many species are blood suckers, they annoy humans and other animals, and they may transmit the pathogens that cause human and animal diseases. The pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes include viruses (arboviruses), filarial worms (helminths) and protozoa. Mosquitoes are the indirect cause of more morbidity and mortality among humans than any other group of organisms [3].