BREEDING SITE PREFERENCES OF MOSQUITOES IN UGBOWO CAMPUS OF UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, BENIN CITY.

ABSTRACT

A study was made of the mosquito species composition, their immature in different breeding sites and monthly abundance between June and October, 2019 in Ugbowo campus of University of Benin, Benin City. Six breeding sites: iron drum, rubber bucket, tin, Gp tank, discarded tyre and gutter were examined for immature weekly. Three species of mosquito in decreasing order of importance: Aedes aegypti (58.4%), Culex quinquefasciatus (32.3%) and Culex tigripes (9.3%) were recorded. Culex quinquefasciatus was harboured only by tin and gutter with constant distribution of the immature in the former and the 1^st and 2^nd instar dominant in the latter. Culex tigripes occurred only in iron drum with the 1^st and 2^nd instar dominant. Aedes aegypti preferred rubber bucket, GP tank and discarded tyre, the 1^st instar, 1^st to 4^th instar and 1^st and pupa being dominant respectively. The overall data showed that there was even distribution of immature from month to month whereas rubber bucket, discarded tyre and gutter were dominant in the production of mosquitoes.