Biological Control of Mosquitoes Using Copepod Species in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Two aquarium tanks labelled A and B were each half filled with water. They were kept open outside the laboratory for seven days so that mosquito larvae will develop in them. Then plankton samples were collected from Ikpoba dam with two plankton nets of 55μm and 100μm mesh sizes. Copepod species were sorted out from the plankton samples and poured into tank A, while tank B was left alone as control. The two tanks were examined after five days. Results showed that the copepod species have eaten up all the mosquito larvae in tank A while in tank B, mosquito larvae were seen in abundance. Thus, copepod species can be used as a biological control of mosquito larvae in our ditches and stagnant pool of water in the environment.