IJSRP, Volume 3, Issue 7, July 2013 Edition [ISSN 2250-3153]
Emmanuel C. Uttah, Cletus I. Iboh, Raymond Ajang, S.E. Osim, Hannah Etta
Abstract:
A total of 1350 mosquitoes were caught during the study. The monthly catches ranged from 210 to 360. Out of this, 1306 (96.7%) were dissected. Overall, parous rate was 75.0%, and ranged from 62.2% in August to 91.3% in December, 2012. The variability in parous rates between months was statistically significant (×2-test, p < 0.05). Relating monthly parous rates with the wet and dry seasons within the sampling months showed significant variability, with higher parity in the dry than wet season (×2-test, p < 0.05). The analysis of parity levels among female mosquitoes caught during the study showed that Parous-one (P1) was most abundant followed by parous-two. Parous-four (P4) was the least. The distribution of parity levels in relation to the sampling months indicated that the proportion of P3s increased in the dry season months while the P1s decreased. In conclusion, ascertaining the age distribution of vectors is very important as it is useful in monitoring the success or otherwise of large-scale vector control measures. It is therefore recommended that control measures against adult mosquitoes be initiated and sustained in the study area. Periodic verification of the success or otherwise of such control measures should be carried out using the physiological age determination method.