author(s)
Ladslaus L Mnyone and Joseph Aikambe

abstract
We assessed composition, abundance and behaviour of malaria vectors, and demographic risk factors in eastern Tanzania. Mosquitoes were collected from 10 households per ward and 10 outdoor points using CDC light traps. Assessment of demographic factors was done in 100 households per ward through interviews and direct observation. Total of 1238 anophelines were collected: An. gambiae s.l. (95.48%) and An. funestus s.l. (4.52%). Abundance of An. gambiae s.l. was 3-fold higher during wet season. Abundance of An. funestus s.l. was higher during dry than wet season. Abundance of An. gambiae s.l. was 20-fold higher than An. funestus s.l. during wet season. Mean abundance per house was 4.35 for An. gambiae s.l. and 0.04 for An. funestus s.l. in Kiroka, and 1.18 for An. gambiae s.l. and 0.92 for An. funestus s.l. in Mkuyuni. >95% of households had open-eaves. >76% of households were cooking outdoors. Only 50% of study households owned bednets. Conclusively, vector population in the study area composed of An. gambiae s.l followed by An. funestus s.l., and abundance was higher indoors during wet than dry season. These along with risk factors like large proportion of open-eaves, low-bednet coverage and outdoor activities suggest high transmission risk in the study-area.