Fikregabrail Aberra

Entomological surveys were conducted in Gondar Zuria and East Dembia districts in the highlands, and Metema district in the lowlands (Fig. 1A). The selection of the districts and sites was based on the known presence of seasonal migrant workers and historical high malaria incidence. Gondar Zuria and East Dembia are the permanent highland residential areas for the migrant workers, while Metema is their temporary seasonal destination in the lowlands.

Twenty-six urban centers were selected for this study (Fig. 1). A range of variables, including ecological setting, presence of dry ports and major transportation corridors, An. stephensi habitat suitability modeling and malaria endemicity, were considered when selecting the sites [36, 42]. The study sites (Additional file 1: Table S1) are located at altitudes between 339 and 2355 m a.s.l. and range from hot-desert lowland to humid highland environments.