Man has suffered from the activities of mosquito since time immemorial and it is ranked as man’s most important insect pest. Mosquitoes belonging to the genera Anopheles, Culex and Aedes are the vectors for the pathogens of different diseases such as malaria, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever, epidemic polyarthritis, yellow fever and chikungunya [1]-[3]. These diseases devastate Indian economy every year [4]. Tropical areas are more vulnerable to parasitic diseases and the risk of contracting arthropod-borne illnesses is increased due to climate change and intensifying globalization [5]. Worldwide, mosquitoes transmit diseases to more than 700 million people annually and are responsible for 1 death for every 17 people currently alive [6]. Malaria results from an infection by a protozoan carried by Anophelesstephensi.

About 2.5 billion people are at risk, more than 500 million people become seriously ill with malaria every year, and more than one million people die due to malaria [7].

Culexquinquefasciatus is responsible for the transmission of Lymphatic filariasis caused by Wuchereriabancrofti. Lymphatic filariasis, disease affecting the arms, legs and genitals, is much prevalent in India. Lymphatic filariasis infects 80 million people annually of which 30 million cases exist in chronic infection. There are 45 million cases of Lymphatic filariasis in India alone [8].

In humans, malaria is a parasitic disease caused by five species of the genus Plasmodium, namely: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodiumovale, Plasmodiummalariae, and Plasmodiumknowlesi [9]. It is transmitted through the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito (Anopheles sp.) [10].

This study aimed to assess mosquito population dynamics and to identify the dominant blood-feeding species that serve as primary malaria vectors in the vicinity of Kindia, Maritime Guinea, Republic of Guinea.

The sampling focused on mosquitoes collected in the various habitats studied. A total of 4,558 mosquitoes were collected between january 3, 2021, and december 8, 2024, using MP-100 traps. Sixteen mosquito species were identified and classified into a single family, the Culicidae.

Table 1 shows the number of mosquito species collected, as well as their frequency: Culexquinquefasciatus 1238 (27.16%), Aedesvittatus 751 (16.47%), Anopheles(Anophelinae) coustani 386 (8.46%), Anopheles gambiae366 (8.02%), Aedesochraceus 360 (7.49%), Culexunivittatus 311 (6.82%), Anopheles(Cellia) funestus 277 (6.07%), Culexantennatus 209 (4.58%), Culexneavei 192 (4.21%), Aedesvexans 185 (4.05%), Aedesdendrophilus 83 (1.82%), Aedes aegypti74 (1.62%), Anopheles (Cellia) pretoriensis and Eretmapoditeschrysogaster had the same number of mosquitoes collected and the same frequency of 40 (0.87%),Mansoniauniformis 33 (0.72%) and Mansoniaafricana 13 (0.28%).

Table 1.Summary of species and their frequency.

Figure 3shows that the most commonly collected mosquito genera were Culex (42.78%), Aedes(31.87%), and Anopheles(23.45%), while the least commonly collected genera were Mansonia (1%) and Eretmapoditeschrysogaster (0.87%).

Figure 3. Allocation of comprehensive income.

In Table 2, we observe that the number of mosquitoes collected in the various habitats varies. Inside dwellings, we collected: Mansoniaafricana 259 (5.68%), Anopheles (Cellia) funestus 74 (1.64%), Anopheles gambiae 35 (0.76%), Culexunivittatus 5 (0.10%), Aedesdendrophilus (0.04%), and the results obtained in areas adjacent to residential zones (terraces, gardens, and surrounding vegetation) are as follows: Culexquinquefasciatus 979 (21.47%), Aedesvittatus 751 (16.47%), Anopheles(Anophelinae) coustani 386 (8.46%), Aedesochraceus 358 (7.85%), Anopheles gambiae331 (7.26%), Culexunivittatus 311 (6.82%), Culexantennatus 204 (4.47%), Anopheles(Cellia) funestus 203 (4.45%), Culexneavei 192 (4.21%), Aedesvexans 185 (4.05%), Aedesdendrophilus 83 (1.82%), Aedes aegypti74 (1.62%), Anopheles (Cellia) pretoriensis and Eretmapoditeschrysogaster had the same number of mosquitoes collected and the same frequency of 40 (0.87%),Mansoniauniformis 33 (0.72%) and Mansoniaafricana 13 (0.28%). In conclusion, this study shows that the results obtained in these habitats indicate that many more mosquitoes were collected near dwellings than inside them, and that depended not only on access conditions but also on abundance and collection conditions.

Table 2.Distribution of captured species by habitat and their frequency.

An Analysis of Table 3 allowed us to identify a single family of mosquitoes (Culicidae), 5 genera of mosquitoes (Culex, Aedes, Anopheles, Mansonia and Eretmapodites), and 16 species: Culexquinquefasciatus, Aedesvittatus, Anopheles (Anophelinae) coustani, Anopheles gambiae, Aedesochraceus, Culexunivittatus, Anopheles(Cellia) funestus, Culexantennatus, Culexneavei, Aedesvexans, Aedesdendrophilus, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles(Cellia) pretoriensis and Eretmapoditeschrysogaster had the same number of mosquitoes collected and the same frequency,Mansoniauniformis and Mansoniaafricana.

Table 3.Breakdown of captured species by order, family, and species.

Figure 4shows a statistically significant difference between the dry season and the rainy season. In conclusion, a statistically significant difference was observed between the dry season (83.9%) and the rainy season (16.1%). (P < 0.0001).

Figure 4.Mosquito population dynamics during the two seasons.

A total of 4,558 mosquitoes were collected between January 3, 2021, and December 8, 2024, using MP-100 traps. Sixteen mosquito species were identified and classified into a single family, the Culicidae, 5 genera of mosquitoes (Culex, Aedes, Anopheles, Mansonia and Eretmapodites), and 16 species: Culexquinquefasciatus 1238 (27.16%), Aedesvittatus 751 (16.47%), Anopheles(Anophelinae) coustani 386 (8.46%), Anopheles gambiae366 (8.02%), Aedesochraceus 360 (7.49%), Culexunivittatus 311 (6.82%), Anopheles(Cellia) funestus 277 (6.07%), Culexantennatus 209 (4.58%), Culexneavei 192 (4.21%), Aedesvexans 185 (4.05%), Aedesdendrophilus 83 (1.82%), Aedes aegypti74 (1.62%), Anopheles (Cellia) pretoriensis and Eretmapoditeschrysogaster had the same number of mosquitoes collected and the same frequency of 40 (0.87%),Mansoniauniformis 33 (0.72%) and Mansoniaafricana 13 (0.28%).

When comparing the results of our study with those from the island nation (Cape Verde) and the countries furthest into the Sahara (Mauritania, Niger); a greater number of species in countries with a sub-humid zone (Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali); a large number of species (56 species).

distributed in a single country versus a small number of species (4 species) present in all 8 countries. Regarding the 4 species, An. arabiensis, Ae.aegypti, Cx. quinquefasciatus, and Lt. tigripes, present in each of the 8 countries, it is noteworthy that the first three are extremely closely associated with humans, that likely facilitated the pantropical spread of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Aedes aegypti is a special case in that a wild population with very little association with humans persists in forested areas, fairly isolated from the domestic population, laying eggs in tree holes and fruit husks, feeding preferentially on wild animals, and not entering houses [16]. The current absence of An. stephensi is significant because this invasive species is already present in the western Persian Gulf. It first became established in Saudi Arabia, then in Djibouti in 2012, then in Ethiopia, and then in Sudan [17][18], so that the introduction of this major vector of human Plasmodium is feared in eight countries in particular (Cape Verde, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Chad) [18].

There are 9 species that are potentially the most commonly found in irrigated rice-growing areas, including 7 Anopheles (An.arabiensis, An.coluzzii, An.funestus, An.pharoensis, An.rufipes, An.squamosus, and An.ziemanni), 1 Culex(Cx.antennatus), and 1Uranotaenia (Ur.balfouri). Tree-hole species are mainly Aedes of the subgenus Stegomyia/Ae. aegypti, Ae. (Stg.) luteocephalus [19], Ae. (Stg.) metallicus [20] and 1 Culex of the subgenus Culiciomyia (Cx. nebulosus); these 4 species can also be captured in anthropogenic domestic breeding sites, sometimes cohabiting with Cx.Quinquefasciatus and Lt.tigripes. Finally, Cx.Quinquefasciatus and Cx. (Cux.) duttoni [21] are associated with human-made aquatic habitats rich in organic matter, such as latrines for the former and muddy water from earthen ditches for the latter. To conclude on mosquito ecology, some species have a larval ecology linked to permanent or sub-permanent natural habitats, such as the edges of ponds or backwaters, and pools, while others have an ecology directly linked to human activity.

This study summarizes the current knowledge regarding the distribution of 4,558 mosquito species found in various habitats. The most commonly found species are Culexquinquefasciatus, Anopheles, vector mosquitoes, and mosquitoes that bite humans; it also appears that the level of research varies by country and raises the issue of a lack of entomologists and standardized surveys. This synthesis, largely focused on species richness as a marker of biodiversity, should serve as a basis for future research on the destruction, fragmentation, and preservation of natural habitats, climate change, and the emergence of new vector-borne pathogens. It can already be useful in the fields of vector control and public health. However, the presence of potentially dangerous zoonotic diseases should not be overlooked; these diseases are transmitted from one host to another when conditions are favorable, underscoring their vulnerability to ecosystem disturbances. It is therefore likely that these diseases and their vectors will spread across borders, thereby increasing the risk of human infection. Mosquitoes are a major reservoir of zoonotic pathogens. It is therefore essential to identify and understand the transmission routes between wildlife and humans.

Namory Keita, Sergey Yakovlev, Aboubacar Hady Touré, Ibrahima Baïlo Diallo, Abdoulaye Baldé, Raphael Dore, and Amara Cissé designed and supervised the study and conducted the fieldwork and laboratory experiments. Mariama Bah, Souleymane Diallo, Bonaventure Kolié, Ibrahima Gouressy, and Alphonse Keller Konkon reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.

The authors would like to thank the authorities of the Guinean Institute of Applied Biological Research and the University of Kindia for making faculty members available to carry out this study. The faculty members of (GIARBR) provided unwavering support throughout the survey. We would also like to thank our colleagues from other departments for their assistance with data analysis, particularly with the diagrams.