Prevalence of Leptoconops Biting Midges and Their Nuisance Impact on Fishing Communities Along the Shores of Lake Chad, Borno State, North East Nigeria

Biting midges of the genus Leptoconops cause intense nuisance biting and dermatological irritation in lakeside communities, yet their prevalence in Nigerian Lake Chad communities has not been formally studied. Fishing communities around the diminishing Lake Chad in Borno State endure significant outdoor biting insect exposure that limits productivity and quality of life. This study investigates the prevalence and seasonal activity patterns of Leptoconops biting midges in three fishing settlements on the Nigerian shore of Lake Chad. Suction traps and sticky card traps will be deployed at lakeside, settlement interior, and vegetated buffer zone sites over two seasons. Midges will be identified to species level using fine morphological keys under light microscopy. A structured survey will assess community perceptions of biting insect nuisance, including its impact on outdoor work hours and sleep quality. Abundance data will be compared between habitats and related to proximity to lake margins and wind direction. This study provides the first documented entomological data on Leptoconops in Lake Chad fishing communities and addresses a neglected aspect of environmental health in Borno State. Keywords: Leptoconops, biting midges, Lake Chad, fishing communities, Borno State