Survey of mosquitoes larvae at Bayero University, Kano students’ hostels (Old Campus) (Culicidae: Diptera)

Abstract

The risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases upon being bitten by an infected mosquito
raises serious health concerns for both staff and students in educational settings. Consequently
a survey was conducted to identify various mosquito species and breeding sites within the old
campus hostels of Bayero University, Kano, during January and February 2023. The survey
encompassed breeding sites such as stagnant pools of water, drainages, gutters, and discarded
containers. Mosquito larvae were sampled using dippers and scoops, and their enumeration
was performed with a Pasteur pipette. Three genera were identified: Anopheles, Aedes, and
Culex spp. A total of 1,115 larvae were sampled from six locations, per volume of water comprising three each from female hostels and three from male hostels respectively. The
prevalence of mosquitoes was higher in female hostels (785 larvae, 69.4%) compared to male
hostels (370 larvae, 32.7%). In female hostels, Aedes sp. exhibited greater abundance (400, 50.9%) than Culex sp. (337, 42.9%), with Anopheles sp. being the least abundant (48, 6.11%).
Conversely, in male hostels, Culex sp. dominated with 186 (50.2%), followed by Aedes sp. with 179 (48.3%), while Anopheles sp. was the least abundant with 5 (1.35%). Consequently, the mean abundance of mosquitoes between male and female hostels demonstrated a significant
difference. This study contributes valuable insights into the larval habitats of mosquitoes in the
students’ hostels of Bayero University, Kano, specifically during the dry season. Factors such
as student activities, inadequate sensitization, and poor sanitation were identified as major
contributors to the creation of breeding sites for mosquitoes in the hostels.