10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

Environmental changes associated with global warming have altered human activities within ecological zones, leading to the emergence of new habitats suitable for malaria vectors. In Bungoma County, located in the western Kenya highlands, populations of malaria vectors remain dynamic due to environmental factors that favor the growth and development of Anopheles gambiae. Land-use changes continue to create new habitats which attract gravid Anopheles gambiae females seeking oviposition sites. The emergence of these habitats, together with inconsistent data on malaria vector distribution within ecological zones, highlights the need for continuous vector surveillance to support effective malaria control strategies. This study assessed the productivity of Anopheles gambiae larvae in habitats within Chwele, Bungoma County, western Kenya highlands, over a 13-month period across different seasons in both disturbed and undisturbed habitats. A total of 6,851 Anopheles gambiae larvae were sampled and analyzed using R version 4.3.2. Larval collections were highest in October and March, while the lowest numbers were recorded between June and August. In undisturbed habitats, significant differences in the productivity of first and second instar larvae were observed across seasons (p < 0.05), as well as between first and fourth instars. Comparison of productivity between disturbed and undisturbed habitats showed a small mean difference of 0.007 (p = 0.868), although higher numbers of fourth instar larvae were recorded in undisturbed habitats. Undisturbed habitats were more productive during the dry season. During the wet season, both habitat types exhibited lower productivity of second instar larvae but higher numbers of fourth instar larvae. The study confirmed that both disturbed and undisturbed habitats in Chwele, western Kenya highlands, are productive breeding sites for Anopheles gambiae larvae and should therefore be considered in larval source management programs in an effort to reduce malaria burden in Bungoma county.