Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2017). 4(12): 98--106 98 International Journal of Advanced Research in Biological Sciences ISSN: 2348-8069 www.ijarbs.com DOI: 10.22192/ijarbs Coden: IJARQG(USA) Volume 4, Issue 12 - 2017 Research Article Impact of human activities on the breeding of mosquitoes of human disease in Owerri metropolis, Imo state Eberendu I.F. 1 , Ozims S.J. 2 , Agu G.C. 1 , Amah H.C. 3 , Obasi C.C. 2 , Obioma-Elemba J.E. 1 , Ihekaire D.E. 1 , Ibanga I.E. 4 , Amah C.C. 3 ,Obeagu E.I. 5 and Nwosu D.C. 3 1 Department of Optometry, Faculty of Health Science, Imo, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. 2 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. 3 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Imo, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria. 4 Department of Chemical Pathology, Federal School of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos, Nigeria 5 Department of Health Services, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. Abstract This study x-rays the impact of human activities on the breeding of mosquitoes of human disease in Owerri metropolis, Imo State with a view to p r offering practical solutions, and ensuring overall reduction of the consequent nealth, social and economic implications of mosquito diseases in general and malaria in particular in Owerri metropolis. The study was a descriptive survey involving mosquito larval collection and identifications carried out at 3 different oreeding sites within Owerri metropolis. The breeding sites were surveyed in a deliberately non random fashion to maximize sensitivity of collections using standard procedures. The habitats were categorized into five groups according to the similarity of the habitats into gutters/drains, ground pools, used tyres, domestic containers and refuse dumps, The results showed that a total of 749 iiosquito larvae were harvested from the breeding sites belonging to 13 different mosquito species of Anopheles, Culex and Aedes genera. The contribution of human activities and increasing environmental modification to the breeding of human disease vector mosquitoes is of importance. It is recommended that selective vector control measures including larvidding as well as enlightening the populace on human environmental factors that contribute to breeding of mosquitoes of human disease as well as the various control measures. Keywords: Human Activities, Breeding of Mosquitoes, Human Disease, Owerri Metropolis Introduction Mosquitoes constitute the most important single family of insects from the standpoint of human health. Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the culicidae (from the latin culex, genitive culicis meaning midge or gnat). The word Mosquito is from Spanish and Portuguese for little fly. Superficially, mosquitoes resemble crane flies (family Tipulidae) and chironomid flies (family Chironomidae), and as a result casual observers seldom realize that there are important differences between their habits. In particular many species of female mosquitoes are blood sucking pests and dangerous vectors of diseases, whereas members of similar-looking Chironomidae and 'Tipulidae are not. There are 41 genera of mosquitoes, containing approximately 3,500 species. Human malaria is transmitted only by females of the genus Anopheles. Of the approximately 430 Anopheles species, while DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22192/ijarbs.2017.04.12.010