Abstract

Mosquitoes are responsible for high deaths in humans because they are competent vectors of protozoans such as malarial parasites, filarial worms and arboviruses. There is a growing threat worldwide of mosquito borne diseases because of geographic expansion of the vectors and parasites because of globalization, urbanization and global warming. Because of their potential in causing diseases, knowledge of bionomics of mosquitoes which are present in a particular area and their potential in disease transmission is very vital. Mosquitoes rely on both natural and artificial containers for breeding. Urban areas are exceptional ideal places for container breeding mosquitoes because of availability of many artificial breeding habitats. Water filled tyres are among some of the favourable breeding sites for mosquitoes and have been shown to support vectors of human diseases. Tyre have also been shown to be responsible for introduction of invasive mosquito species around the world and may also facilitate expansion of their geographic range. Botswana is currently facing a serious problem of waste tyre management since there is no legislation on waste tyre management. There is accumulation of used tyres from dealers and roadside tyre repairs. Once tyres have outlived their usefulness they are discarded indiscriminately. Discarded tyres pose a serious health hazard to the public because they provide breeding sites for mosquitoes some of which have potential to transmit diseases. This study therefore endeavours to conduct an entomological survey that will inventory all mosquito species associated tyres. This will be done by examining discarded tyres for signs of mosquito breeding. The study will also determine frequencies of occurrence of tyre breeding mosquitoes also further establish if there are invasive exotic tyre species in Gaborone