Prevalence and Identification of Blackflies in Cross River State

Student: Margaret Ukwudi Ikwen (Project, 2025)
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology
Cross Rivers University of Technology, Calabar, Cross Rivers State

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and identification of blackflies In Kwa Falls in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria, in relation to the strain of Onchocerca volvulus transmitted in the study area. Two fly boys working on shift of 6 hours captured Simulium flies settling on them for blood meals by inverting specimen vials over them. Simulium flies were preserved in 70% ethanol and transported to the Biological Science Laboratory of Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, for entomological studies. Of the 265 Simulium species studied, 29 species were identified as savanna dwellers, 98 species as transition zone dwellers and 138 species as forest-dwellers. There was significant difference (p0.05) between blackflies from these rivers. Mean thorax/antenna ratios of 2.4143, 1.9673, and 2.033 were recorded for savanna dwellers, transition zone dwellers and forest species respectively. Based on the morphology of Simulium damnosums. l. studied, it could be inferred that there are likely four Simulium sibling species related to Simulium sirbanum, S. squamosum, S. yahense and S. damnosum sensu stricto in the study area.

Keywords
Simulium Onchocerca volvulus Filarial nematodes Onchocerciasis Simulium yahense blackflies
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