Spatiotemporal Distribution and Developmental Dynamics of Aedes aegypti Linnaeus [Diptera: Culicidae] and Aedes albopictus Skuse [Diptera: Culicidae] in Microhabitats within the University of Lagos, Nigeria
NJE Vol. 42(1) : 1-15, 2026
DOI.10.36108/NJE/6202/24.0110
ADETORO, Fouad Abidemi, OLADAPO, Kolade Paul, ADENIRAN James, and KEMABONTA Kehinde
Applied Entomology Unit, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Lagos, P.M.B. 101017, Lagos, Nigeria
Abstract
Arboviral infections in the tropics and subtropics have become re-emergent, with culicine mosquitoes crucial to their transmission. A four-month survey was conducted between January to April, 2025 within the University of Lagos (Akoka campus) Nigeria. A total of 483 immature stages of Aedes mosquitoes were collected: 358 larvae, 90 pupae, and 35 eggs. Emergence yielded 292 adults, predominantly Aedes aegypti (n=245), which showed significantly higher wet season productivity at 0.02 (P < 0.05), especially in April. In contrast, Aedes albopictus demonstrated no significant seasonal difference. Spatial analysis showed that Mean±Standard deviation of Ae. aegypti was most dominant at Students Affairs Frontage (11.0 ± 10.49), followed by New Hall (10.5 ± 24.09), and Faculty of Science (4.88 ± 5.33) with clear preference for artificial containers such as discarded tyres and ceramic plates. Aedes albopictus was exclusively present in the Biological Garden (2.35 ± 3.87), favoring shaded vegetated habitats. These findings emphasized ecological partitioning between the two species, and suggested potential interspecific competition in vegetated microhabitats while the seasonality and habitat specificity of Ae. aegypti affirmed its adaptation to urban environments and highlighted critical windows for targeted vector surveillance and control.
Keywords: Arboviruses, Culicine mosquitoes, Ecological partitioning, Microhabitats, Spatio-temporal distribution