We investigated mosquito sampling techniques with two types of traps and attractants at different
time for trapping potential vectors for Rift Valley Fever virus. The study was conducted in six villages in
Ngorongoro district in Tanzania from September to October 2012. A total of 1814 mosquitoes were collected, of
which 738 were collected by CDC light traps and 1076 by Mosquito Magnet trapping technique. Of the
collected mosquitoes, 12.46% (N= 226) were
Aedes aegypti
and
Culex pipiens
and 87.54% (N= 1588) were
Culex pipiens
complex.
More mosquitoes were collected outdoors using Mosquito Magnets baited with octenol attractant, 36.38%
(N=660) followed by indoor trapping using CDC light traps without attractant, 29.60% (N=537). Most of
Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were collected outdoor using Mosquito Magnets, 95% (N=214) whereas
Cx. pipiens complex
were trapped both indoor using CDC light traps without attractant and outdoors using both CDC light traps
baited with carbon dioxide (CO
2) sachets and Mosquito Magnets. Analysis on the differences in abundance of
mosquitoes trapped by different techniques using Generalized Linear Models was statistically significance at p-value
< 0.05 for both species. Three hours mosquito collections show differing patterns in activity, most
Ae. aegypti species were collected primarily during the first and last quarters of the day. Cx pipiens complex was
active throughout the night, early evening and early morning then decreased markedly during the day time.
The results presented in this paper emphasize the possibility of using Mosquito Magnets in order to efficiently
capture these potential RVF vectors.
