A.O. Omoregie

Mosquitoes are common insect pests and are well known as major vectors responsible for transmitting important parasitic and arboviral diseases such as malaria, filariasis, dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika virus, which pose significant health risks to humans and animals. This study investigated the species composition, sex ratio and distribution of outdoor-resting mosquitoes on the Ugbowo Campus of the University of Benin, Nigeria. Adult mosquitoes were sampled using sweep nets across 14 selected outdoor sites between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. from August to September 2025. Identification was carried out using standard morphological keys. A total of 244 adult mosquitoes were recorded, representing seven species: Aedes albopictus (67.6%), Aedes infirmatus (2.87%), Aedes cretinus (0.4%), Aedes vexans (2.87%), Culex quinquefasciatus (25.4%), Coquillettidia fraseri (0.4%) and Mansonia sp. (0.4%). Aedes albopictus was the most abundant (67.6%) and the most widely distributed, occurring in all sampled locations except the Junior Staff Quarters farmland. Aedes cretinus, Coquillettidia fraseri and Mansonia sp. were the least represented, each accounting for 0.4%. The sex ratio showed a higher proportion of females (63.9%) than males (36.1%). The Junior Staff Quarters farmland had the highest mosquito abundance (17.6%), followed by the Faculty of Agriculture (11.5%) and the Ekosodin back gate (11.0%), while Hall 6 recorded the lowest abundance (2.5%). Species diversity was highest at the Faculty of Engineering, Basic Medical Sciences, and Hall 6, whereas the Department of Health Services and the Junior Staff Quarters plantain farm showed the lowest diversity.

A segment of the livestock industry, poultry birds include chicken, turkeys, ducks, and quails. Ectoparasite infestations are a common occurrence in poultry farms. These parasites feed on the skin, feathers, and blood of the birds, which results in illnesses and decreased egg production. Chicken lice is one common instance. The Phthipraptera order includes lice. Iguosa and Senior Staff Quarters (SSQ) in Ovia North East of Edo State are where this study was carried out in July 2023. This study was conducted to determine the species composition of lice in Ovia North East, abundance, species composition and mean intensity.The feathers of 101 hens were carefully held horizontally, in the opposite direction of their anatomical alignment, to expose the lice. The chickens were then hand-selected and inspected for lice. The only lice species identified in both farms were Menacanthus stramineus and Menopon gallinae, with Menacanthus stramineus being the only species on Iguosa Farm. 98.02% of both farms had lice, with M.stramineus having a frequency of 98.04 and M.gallinae having a prevalence of 14.85%. Iguosa had a total of 96.08% lice prevalence, while SSQ had the highest prevalence of 100%. M.stramineus was present in both farms, with no significant difference between them (p>0.1, p=0.127). In order to reduce the prevalence of lice and, especially, to increase poultry output, proper poultry management should be followed. Proper and constant treatment for lice should also be ensured.