Investigation of mosquito larval and pupal abundance from diverse breeding sites in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria

Numerous interventions have been implemented to reduce mosquito vector populations and eliminate their breeding sites, yet mosquitoes continue to proliferate in many endemic communities. This study investigated the abundance of mosquito larvae and pupae in different breeding sites, and the species of mosquitoes encountered in ten villages in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria, between April 2020 and March 2021. Thirteen types of natural and artificial water-holding habitats around human dwellings were identified and sampled monthly using the standard dipping method. A total of 1,578 larvae and pupae were collected from all breeding sites. Immature stages were reared to adults in cages for species-level identification. Abandoned tyres accounted for the highest proportion of immatures (22.5%), followed by ponds (20.3%), plastic containers and drums (14.6%), and containers of fermenting cassava (12.9), while oil well head location ponds recorded the lowest abundance (0.5%). Mosquito larvae and pupae were more abundant during the rainy months (June–October) and declined progressively during the dry season. Five species of mosquitoes: Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex pipiens, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae, and Anopheles nili were morphologically identified. Culex quinquefasciatus (36.6%) was more abundant while Culex pipiens (1.9%) was the least. These findings indicate that anthropogenic containers, particularly discarded tyres and domestic water storage vessels, are important breeding sites sustaining mosquito populations in the study area. Targeted larval source management focusing on these key habitats, combined with community education on environmental sanitation, is recommended to support integrated vector control.