title: Efficacy of neem chippings for mosquito larval control under field conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An in depth understanding of mosquito breeding biology and factors regulating population sizes is fundamental for vector population control. This paper presents results from a survey of mosquito breeding habitats and the efficacy of neem chippings as a potential larvicide that can be integrated in mosquito control on Nyabondo Plateau in western Kenya.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six main mosquito habitat types namely artificial ponds, abandoned fish ponds, active fish ponds, open drains, temporary pools and swamps were found in Nyabondo. Early anopheline instars were mainly recovered from temporary pools, artificial ponds and abandoned fish ponds. The mosquitoes collected were Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (35%), An. coustani (46%) and Culex spp (19%). Both early and late instar larvae of anopheline and culicine mosquitoes were more abundant in the controls than in the Bti and neem treated habitats. Within treated habitats, early instar anopheline mosquitoes were recovered more from habitats provided with neem and fish compared to Bti treated habitats. All treated habitats recorded higher numbers of early instar larvae than late instars or pupae, indicating that gravid female mosquitoes still oviposited within treated habitats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neem chippings are a good tool for mosquito larval source management under field conditions. However, more research needs to be done to quantify the contribution of this tool to the overall mosquito borne disease transmission.
authors.affiliation: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya. sueimbahale@yahoo.com.|Department of Applied and Technical Biology, Technical University of Kenya, P.O Box 52428, City Square, Nairobi, Kenya. sueimbahale@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Susan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Imbahale
authors.affiliation: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya. rmukabana@yahoo.co.uk.|School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya. rmukabana@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Wolfgang R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Mukabana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles; D031601:Azadirachta / Q000737:chemistry*; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D023681:Cichlids; D003465:Culex; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D007630:Kenya; D007814:Larva; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D061005:Ponds; D011679:Pupa; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D061046:Biological Control Agents