Mosquito Species Composition and Biting Rate among Residents of Hong Ward in Hong LGA, Adamawa State, Nigeria

This study investigated the species composition, abundance, sex distribution, and biting behavior of mosquitoes in Hong Ward, Hong Local Government Area (LGA), Adamawa State, Nigeria, to inform targeted vector control strategies. Adult mosquitoes were collected indoors between 06:00 and 09:00 hours using a battery-operated Prokopack aspirator. Collected specimens were labeled, placed in petri dishes, and transported to the entomology laboratory at Modibbo Adama University, Yola, for morphological identification using standard taxonomic keys. Mosquitoes were identified by species, sex, and abdominal condition, and dissected to examine the midgut for sporozoite infectivity. Indoor Resting Density (IRD) and Man-Biting Rate (MBR) were calculated following standard formulas. A total of 785 mosquitoes were identified: Culex quinquefasciatus (43.18%), Anopheles gambiae (28.34%), Anopheles funestus (10.57%), Aedes aegypti (8.01%), and Mansonia spp. (9.81%). Female mosquitoes predominated, with 302 (75.34%) and 345 (76.89%) collected in September and October, respectively. IRD and MBR varied by species and month; Aedes aegypti had the highest MBR in September (11.73 bites/person/night), while Anopheles gambiae peaked in October (8.74 bites/person/night). Abdominal condition analysis revealed ongoing feeding and reproductive activity, with a high frequency of unfed and freshly fed females. Monthly variation showed a rise in Mansonia species in October, alongside a decrease in Anopheles funestus. These findings underscore the dynamic ecology of mosquito vectors in Hong Ward and highlight the importance of continuous entomological surveillance and species-specific, seasonally-adapted vector control measures to mitigate mosquito-borne disease transmission.