Urbanization and the Mosquito Population: Threats to Human Health

Abstract

Mosquitoes have always been a source of threat to human health because of their ability to transmit deadly diseases. Despite several efforts to curb their population, they have managed to survive and spread havoc. Urbanization has emerged to be one of the major contributors to their reproductive success followed by climate change. Urbanization has stimulated opportunistic breeding behaviour in mosquitoes by generating a vast array of temporary breeding habitats. The effect has been compounded by climate change allowing the mosquitoes to breed throughout the year and spread to regions which were previously inhospitable to them. Further, a study of mosquito breeding behaviour shows that gravid females follow several visual and olfactory cues to select their breeding habitats to ensure the well-being of their young ones. Thus, study of mosquito breeding habitats in urban areas helps to identify their markers to be used in mosquito larval source management. Similar problems can be largely overcome in the future by taking a more inclusive approach during town planning.