Biology, Surveillance and Control of Mosquito Vectors

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Most species show a preference for certain animals or for humans (Cheong et al. 1988,

Onyido et al. 2009). They are attracted by the body odors, carbon dioxide and heat emitted

from the animal or person. Some species prefer biting at certain hours, for example at dusk

and dawn or in the middle of the night. Feeding usually takes place during the night but

daytime biting also occurs. Some species prefer to feed in forests, some outside of houses,

and others indoors (Cheong et al. 1988, Onyido et al. 2009).

4.10

MOSQUITO AS NUISANCE

Mosquitos can cause nuisance and fear to humans. Recreational and forest parks, and

other recreational areas can be very good places where mosquitos can breed and live.

High humidity, hiding places in branches, dense leaves trees and the grassy vegetation

can be very good places for protecting the mosquitos from the sun light and high tempera-

tures (Cheong et al. 1988, Onyido et al. 2009). Many kinds of swamps, streamlets, ponds,

pools full of water can be very good places for development of the eggs, larvae and pupae

mosquito’s life cycle stages. All these optimal conditions in recreational areas are very fa-

vorable ecological condition for the development of the whole mosquito life cycle (Cheong

et al. 1988, Onyido et al. 2009). Mosquitos can be a very high nuisance to human in tourist

recreational areas and parks. The mosquito biting activities can inflict the presence and the

coming of the tourists in recreational areas. Except transmission of the pathogen agents,

mosquitos can cause parasitosis, false parasitosis, inflammation and the irritation of the

human skin, allergies to sensitive people, toxins etc. (Cheong et al. 1988, Onyido et al.

2009).

4.11

SURVEILLANCE AND ENTOMOLOGICAL STUDIES OF MOSQUITO

VECTOR

Mosquito surveillance should be a routine part of any mosquito program. A good

surveillance program provides information on a list of local mosquitos (including distri-

bution and population size estimation), and effectiveness of the control strategies being

used. Information on the epidemiology of insect-borne diseases is essential if the disease

is to be controlled. Entomological, parasitological and clinical studies provide useful in-

formation on the characteristics of disease transmission in an area as well as the habits and

habitats of the specific vector species.

Entomological studies have several important roles to play in vectors of diseases con-

trol, including the following (WHO 1992): i) identification of the vectors responsible for

transmission of the disease; ii) provision of basic information on the habits and habitats

of vector species for purposes of planning effective control measures; iii) monitoring the

impact of control measures (for example, by determining changes in vector population

density, rates of infection, susceptibility of vectors to insecticides, and residual effects of

insecticides on treated surfaces) and iv) contributing to the investigation of problem areas

where control measures prove unsuccessful.