<i>Anopheles stephensi</i> larval habitat superproductivity and its relevance for larval source management in Africa.

ABSTRACT: The invasion of Africa by Anopheles stephensi poses a significant threat to malaria elimination. As An. stephensi exploits a wide array of urban artificial larval habitats, it may be less impacted by rainfall variability compared to other native Anopheles species. We empirically investigated this assumption by quantifying the seasonal transition of an established population from eastern Ethiopia between rainy and dry periods. Monthly larval surveys generated evidence of significant heterogeneity between seasons in the type of habitat and their productivity. As the dry season progressed, An. stephensi productivity significantly concentrated in large water reservoirs (for drinking and construction) to a point in which up to 77% of all larvae originated from 23% of

SUBMITTER: Yared S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11785207 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature