Habitat Characteristics, Mosquito Breeding Status and Colour Preferences for Oviposition in Artificial Containers: Evidence from Orodo Mbaitolu Imo State, Nigeria

<title>Abstract</title> <p> Introduction: Mosquitoes are associated with different breeding sites which are either natural or man-made (artificial). This study investigated habitat characteristics, mosquito breeding status, and colour preferences for oviposition in artificial containers in Orodo, Mbaitolu, Imo State, Nigeria. Methods Mosquito larvae were collected using the standardized dipping technique. A total of 280 artificial containers representing seven different colours were filled with 600mL of water and monitored weekly for two months. All mosquito specimens were identified morphologically. Results A total of 7,386 mosquito larvae were collected. Of the 280 containers, 164 contained only water, while 116 contained both water and mosquito larvae. Oboroche recorded the highest larval density (22.7%); however, the distribution of mosquito-positive containers among the five villages did not differ significantly (χ² = 4.916, <italic>p</italic>  = 0.296). White containers (19.2%) attracted the highest number of mosquito larvae <bold>(</bold> χ² = 12.334, p = 0.055). Plastic containers accounted for 58.2% of all positive breeding sites and showed a significant association between mosquito species and sampling locations (χ² = 116.257, <italic>p</italic>  &lt; 0.001). Although species composition varied among villages, the differences were not statistically significant (χ² = 19.49, <italic>p</italic>  = 0.077). Discussion The findings demonstrate that human activities and artificial containers provide favourable breeding habitats for mosquitoes and that container colour influences oviposition preference. Incorporating less attractive colours into the design and painting of household water-holding containers and surrounding structures may help reduce mosquito breeding. These findings provide useful information for developing integrated mosquito control strategies and supporting public health efforts to reduce mosquito-borne diseases. </p>