Contributions of time, temperature and humidity on the biting behaviour of anopheles funestus at Lupiro village in Morogoro, Tanzania

Abstract

Effective control measures that target Anopheles mosquitoes, the major carriers of the illness, are still needed to combat malaria, which continues to pose a serious danger to world health. Among them, Anopheles funestus is essential in sub-Saharan Africa for spreading malaria parasites to people. For the development of precise vector control strategies, it is crucial to comprehend the elements influencing Anopheles funestus's biting behaviour. The impact of environmental conditions on mosquitoes' eating habits has been highlighted by existing studies on their behaviour. The three main factors that may influence mosquito biting behaviour are time, temperature, and humidity. The passage of time must be taken into account since Anopheles mosquitoes have distinct temporal feeding patterns, with peak activity taking place at particular times of the night. The rate at which mosquitoes bite depends on the metabolism, ability to fly, and activity levels that are influenced by temperature. Furthermore, humidity is important for mosquito survival and behaviour. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the precise influences of time, temperature, and humidity on Anopheles funestus's biting behaviour. We can learn more about the temporal and environmental elements that favour their biting activity by observing how they react to changes in these variables. Such information can help in the creation of evidence-based malaria prevention and control programmes. The results of this study will help us better comprehend the intricate connection between Anopheles funestus's biting behaviour and time with p- values of 0.0000, temperature with p – value of 0.0000, and humidity with p – value of 0.0000. This study can direct the creation of focused treatments to reduce malaria transmission by identifying the elements that influence their feeding patterns. In the end, these initiatives were to help to lessen the impact of malaria and enhance public health in the impacted areas.