Temporal Dynamics and Bionomics of Anopheles gambiae s.l. in Communities Under Different Land Use Regimes in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria

Malaria transmission intensity in Nigeria is closely linked to the bionomics of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato, yet how land use change affects mosquito biology and population dynamics remains inadequately characterized at fine spatial scales within the country. Kwara State presents a landscape mosaic of irrigated farmland, rain-fed agriculture, and remnant woodland that provides an ideal natural experiment. This study investigates the temporal dynamics, species composition, and bionomic parameters of An. gambiae s.l. across four land use categories in Kwara State over 24 months. Monthly adult collections using CDC light traps, pyrethrum spray catches, and human landing catches will be conducted at eight sites per land use type. Molecular identification using PCR will characterize sibling species composition. Wing length, parity rates, and sporozoite prevalence will be measured as bionomic indicators. Vectorial capacity will be modeled seasonally for each land use type. A mixed-effects regression framework will test whether land use type explains significant variance in mosquito abundance and vectorial capacity beyond rainfall seasonality alone. This study fills an empirical gap between landscape ecology and malaria epidemiology in North Central Nigeria, contributing evidence needed for land use-sensitive vector control planning. Keywords: Anopheles gambiae, land use, vectorial capacity, bionomics, Kwara State