Studies on some ornithophilic mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) of the Kano Plain, Kenya

Abstract

AbstractDuring 1972–74, 13 865 female mosquitoes of 25 species from eight genera were collected at the Kisumu heronry using light-traps, chicken-baited traps and battery-driven aspirators. A total of 3298 of these were engorged and 2169 were subjected to precipitin testing in order to determine their food sources. A high percentage of feeds on birds was recorded for Coquillettidia karandalaensis (Wolfs) (96%), Culex poicilipes (Theo.) (82%), and C. univittatus gp (65%); Mansonia uniformis (Theo.), M. africana (Theo.) and C. antennatus (Becker) were found to feed on birds occasionally. Results from catches in CDC light-traps set at various heights in trees with nesting birds indicated that C. univittatus gp, C. poicilipes and Aedomyia africana Nev.-Lem. were active in the upper levels of the canopy. Further analysis of blood-meals from birds indicated that C. univittatus gp mosquitoes were feeding principally on ciconiiform birds. Any mosquito which feeds regularly on birds and man must be considered as a potential vector of arboviruses; the results indicate that the most important vectors at Kisumu are probably C. univittatus gp mosquitoes.