This study was carried out to provide epidemiological information on the distribution and diversity of vector mosquito species in conventional larval breeding habitats in Minna Metropolis, Nigeria. Selected larval habitats were rice-fields, gutters, septic tanks, rain pools and streams, which were sampled weekly during the months of September through November of 2013. The results indicated the occurrence of seven vector mosquito species in the area namely, Culex pipiens pipiens (38.84%), Cx. salinarius (28.78%), Aedes aegypti (10.71%), Anopheles gambiae (7.29%), Cx. restuans (6.52%), Cx. nigripalpus (4.72%), and An. funestus (4.15%). Culex p. pipiens was the most widely distributed species, being absent only in the stream habitats, that was totally devoid of mosquitoes. Cx. nigripalpus and Cx. salinarius were encountered in three of habitat types (i.e., rice-fields, gutters and septic tanks), while Ae. Aegypti was encountered in the gutters and the rain pools. In addition to the rain pools, Cx. Restuans was also collected from gutters. The two anopheline species encountered had similar pattern of larval habitat distribution been found only in rice fields and rain pools. On the whole, the rice-fields and gutters were the most productive larval habitats, in terms of mosquito abundance (28.04% and 29.67% respectively) and diversity (diversity index=0.6940 and 0.4834 respectively). Overall mosquito species diversity for the area was 0.6985, largely contributed by Cx. p. pipiens and Cx. salinarius. The findings of this study suggest serious threat of mosquito-borne diseases to public health, in Minna Metropolis, promoted by anthropogenic alterations of the ecosystem.

The peculiar challenges associated with mosquito vector control in developing urban areas, occasioned by the complex heterogeneity in vector behaviour and population dynamics, informed this study to elucidate the influence of eco-type on Mosquito species occurrence and responses to presence of mineral salts in oviposition sites. Two distinct ecotypes namely, semi-mineral and Urban, were selected as ovitrap stations, in Minna, Nigeria. In addition to the control experiment, adequately replicated ovitraps enriched with individual and combinations of nitrates, sulphates and phosphates were setup in the two ecotype sites and monitored for mosquito oviposition activities. The results indicated significantly (P<0.05) lower number of species and aggregate Mosquito densities in the urban (Mean=17.14±4.52 larvae/ovitrap) than semi-rural ecotype (21.76±3.93 larvae/ovitrap). While, three mosquito species: Aedes aegypti, Culex p. pipiens and Cx. restuans, were common to both ecotypes, additional three species namely; Anopheles quadrimaculatus, Cx. Tarasalis and Cx. quinquefasciatus were encountered in the semi-rural ecotype, though in low densities. Significantly higher larval densities were recorded in ovitraps enriched with mineral salts (range= 19.75±4.57 to 24.25±4.62 larvae/ovitrap) than the control (14.50±4.86 larvae/ovitrap). While, Nitrate ovitraps yielded the highest number of larvae (23.50±7.39 larvae/ovitrap) among the individual mineral salt-enriched ovitraps, and closely rivalled those containing combination of all three salts. The individual mosquito species demonstrated significant preferences for certain lone/single or combined salts-ovitraps. These findings revealed significant spatial heterogeneity in cosmopolitan mosquito population behaviour; and calls for the incorporation of diverse species-and ecotype-sensitive tools in mosquito vector control programs in such human communities.