title: Pupal habitat productivity of Anopheles gambiae complex mosquitoes in a rural village in western Kenya.
abstract: The productivity of larval habitats of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae for pupae (the stage preceding adult metamorphosis) is poorly known, yet adult emergence from habitats is the primary determinant of vector density. To assess it, we used absolute sampling methods in four studies involving daily sampling for 25 days in 6 habitat types in a village in western Kenya. Anopheles gambiae s.s. comprised 82.5% of emergent adults and Anopheles arabiensis the remainder. Pupal production occurred from a subset of habitats, primarily soil burrow pits, and was discontinuous in time, even when larvae occupied all habitats continuously. Habitat stability was positively associated with pupal productivity. In a dry season, pupal productivity was distributed between burrow pits and pools in streambeds. Overall, these data support the notion that source reduction measures against recognizably productive habitats would be a useful component of an integrated management program for An. gambiae in villages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya. fmutuku@kisian.mimcom.net
authors.forename: Francis M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Mutuku
authors.forename: M Nabie
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Bayoh
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gimnig
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vulule
authors.forename: Luna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kamau
authors.forename: Edward D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Ephantus
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kabiru
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Hawley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D009032:Mosquito Control; D011679:Pupa / Q000502:physiology; D011891:Rain; D012424:Rural Population; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors