CHAPTER ONE
1.1     INTRODUCTION
Mosquitoes are vectors of Plasmodium parasite that cause malaria, nematode worms that cause filariasis for example Wuchereria bancrofti, and a large number of arbo-viruses e.g yellow fever and dengue viruses including two of great impacts in the tropical ad sub-tropical regions (Ifeyinwa et al, 2012). They belong to the Order:Diptera and possess short elongated and slender body, long many-segmented antennae, long slender legs and an elongated proboscis with piercing and sucking mouth parts (Jordan et al, 2007).
Mosquitoes exploit almost all types of lentic aquatic habitats for breeding and some have been found to thrive in aquatic bodies such as fresh or salt water marshes, mangroves swamps, rice fields, grassy ditches, edge of streams and rivers and small temporary pools, (Oyewole et al, 2009). Many species prefer habitats with vegetations while some breed in open, sunlit pools. A few species breed in tree holes or the leaf axils of some plants (CDC, 2004).
Vector-borne diseases particularly mosquito-borne diseases have been the most important worldwide health problems for many years still represents a constant and serious risk to a large part of the world’s population. Mosquitoes rank as man’s important pest and most of the challenges posed by mosquito-borne diseases consist not only in their cosmopolitan nature and ability to survive in air, aquatic and terrestrial habitats, but their ability to breed in any collection of standing water such as wheel barrow, cesspits, flower vest and drainage systems make such a prolific source of mosquito production (Ifeyinwa et al, 2012).
Mosquito – transmitted diseases are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in sub Saharan Africa for example, there are up to 500 million clinical cases about deaths due to malaria globally (Olaleye et al, 2001).