The intra-colonial population of individuals within the mounds of mound-building termite, Macrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman) occurring in some selected Local Government Areas of Sokoto State were studied. A total of 72 cone shaped mounds were selected based on their heights. Populations were estimated by randomly collecting and counting core samples from the mounds using a small bucket as the mounds were being excavated. At the end of the excavation, the total sand removed from the mound was crushed and measured using the same bucket. Total number of termites from a mound was extrapolated from the above estimates. Results indicate the presence of five different castes; reproductives, workers, minor and major soldiers and nymphs. The population of individuals per mound apart from the reproductives, ranged between 14158.00 and 24777.67 with an average of 18,795.49 termites per mound. The nymphs were the largest (5,942.60) closely followed by the workers (5,547.70), while the minor soldiers are the least with 3,279.38. Significant difference (p<0.05) occurred between minor soldiers and nymphs, major soldiers and nymphs, minor soldiers and workers and minor soldiers and nymphs in some of the studied areas. The present study show M. bellicosus to have high population within individual mounds enough to cause damage if ignored. Being a pestiferous species that could promote erosion, appropriate control strategies are required for its control.

Five different edible insects from Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara States of North-Western Nigeria, namely; Red Locust (Nomadacris setemfasciata), Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria), Variegated Grasshopper (Zonocerus wariegatus), Termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) and Brown Cricket (Gryllotapha Africana), were collected alongside with meats from camel (Camellus dromedaries), Cow (Bos indicus), Ram (Ovis aries), Chicken (Gallus gallus), and Fish (Clariaslazera). The insects were oven dried separately at 60ºC for 3-5hrs while the meats were dried at 60ºC for 48hrs. The dried contents of both the insects and the meats were ground separately and each was subjected to proximate analysis. The results indicated the nutrient to have Carbohydrates ranging between 0.7 g - 12.1 g in the insects and 0.4 g-10.2 g in the meats, Proteins ranging from 12.6 g - 57.3 g in the insects and 18.1 g – 70.4 g in the meats, Fats, Fibre, Ash and Moisture having ranges between 5 g - 17.9 g, 5 g - 20 g, 4g -10 g, 11.5 g - 53.6 g, respectively in insects and 18.4 g - 70.4 g Fats, 5 g Fibre, 2.4 g - 10.4 g Ash and 13.4 g – 59 g moisture in the meats. Equally, the minerals showed varied in both the insects and the meats. Statistical comparison of the means of the results showed that the Carbohydrates, the Protein and the Fibre do not differ (P˂0.0) significantly in both the insects and the meats. Similarly Copper, Iron, Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium do not differ significantly in the two groups. This suggested that insects as diet when taken in required amount can meet the protein requirement of the human body and can therefore supplement animal meats in our diets.

Mosquitoes play an important role in promoting the spread of many zoonotic diseases among vertebrates. Their presence and numbers were influenced by the availability of breeding sites. This study reports the occurrence and colour preferences of oviposition in man-made habitats under field conditions by female mosquitoes found in the Water Board Station at Runjin Sambo Area, Sokoto. A total of nine plastic buckets (2 litres) of different colours were used as artificial oviposition container. The colour chosen was black, blue, brown, pink, purple, red, white, and yellow. The containers were filled with an equal amount of water and placed under a shade at 5 cm interval and observed daily for seven days. Mosquito larvae were emptied into a bowl and counted. The result showed that Aedes and Culex larvae were oviposited in all the plastic container with high abundance in a red colour plastic container (25.10 and 26.30% respectively) while Anopheles larvae were more in the black container (25.5%) and Mansoni on brown (23.10%). This suggested that container colour was important in influencing the oviposition choices of some female mosquitoes breeding in artificial containers in the Water Board Station at Runjin Sambo Area Sokoto. It is hoped that the study will help in adopting control measures for the respective mosquito species.

Research was conducted on the molecular survey of drug resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria among pregnant women attending ante natal care (ANC) at Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital (MAWCH) Sokoto, Nigeria from February, 2020 to May, 2020. Blood samples of 200 pregnant women who came for ANC in the Hospital were collected and Questionnaire administered. Thin and thick blood film microscopy and Plasmodium falciparum mono clonal antibody specific RDT kit were used to detect Plasmodium falciparum. P. falciparum positive dried blood samples were investigated for the presence of Pfmdr1 and Pfcrt genes using PCR protocol. Results for the investigation of Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 genes revealed 26.30% and 89.50% prevalence respectively, while 4 samples were positive for both genes representing 21.05% prevalence. Prevalence of Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 genes do not associate (p>0.05) with any of the parameters tested. Spread of the mutant genes observed in this study may be attributed to the continuous use of antimalarial drugs that the parasite developed resistant to. Pregnant women should be attending early ante-natal care booking and attend clinic regularly, malaria control programs should be carried out in the state.

Mosquitoes are insects that vector many of the life threatening diseases. Control of these insects is one of the major problems of the world today. Leaves and seed kernel extracts of Tobacco; Nicotiana tabacum (L.) and Thorn-Apple; Datura metel (L.) were assayed for larvicidal activity against three mosquito species of Aedes, Anopheles and Culex respectively. Samples of the three species were collected from mosquito breeding sites and reared in the laboratory for continued source of larvae following standard procedures. The plants parts used were extracted with hexane, chloroform and methanol in increasing order of polarity. Each extract was formulated into 0.9, 1.6, 2.4, 3.5 and 4.0mg/mL concentrations, and tested for larvicidal activity against 25 larvae of each genus in three replicates, alongside the controls over 12 to 72 hrs periods. The extracts that exhibited highest larvicidal activity were subjected to phytochemical screenings for searching active ingredients. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance, treatment means separated through DNMRT and lethal concentrations of the extracts were determined. Among the extracts tested, hexane extract of D. metel and methanol extract of N. tabacum caused highest larvicidal activity with more than 70% mortality on Aedes and Anopheles larvae when 4.0mg/mL was applied after 72 hrs (LC50 2.94±0.1 and LC502.58±0.1 mg/mL respectively). Culex larvae were less susceptible to all concentrations of the extracts. Though, larvicidal activity was observed to be directly proportional to concentrations and larval exposure periods, significant differences (p< 0.05) in the means of larval death were observed. The active extracts were found to contain alkaloids, saponins steroids, flavonoids and glycosides from moderate to high quantity which could be responsible for larvicidal activity. Future formulation studies, toxicity profile and possible mechanism of action may lead to the development of potential insecticidal products.