Larval mosquito predation: evaluation of the effectiveness of five aquatic arthropod species against larvae of Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae)

ABSTRACT

Mosquitoes are insects of medical interest. They contribute to the transmission and spread of many viral and parasitic diseases. Various methods have been used to control mosquitoes such as conventional insecticides, which are widely used throughout the world and have a negative impact on the environment and targeted species. Predatory insects are significant for the biocontrol of various pests, including the important potential against the larval instars of mosquitoes. In this study, we tested the efficacy of five species Piona uncata Koenike, 1888; Notonecta glauca Linnaeus, 1758; Corixa punctata Illiger, 1807, Ilyocoris cimicoide Linnaeus, 1758; and Sympetrum striolatum Charpentier, 1840 against the fourth instars larvae of Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758, according to two exposure phases (Light phase, Twilight phase). The predation assays show a significant effect of tested species against mosquito larvae with the following decreasing order of efficacy: S. striolatum> N. gluca> P. uncata> I. cimicoides> C. pinctata. The early larval instars are the most favourable trophic choice of the five predatory species. On the other hand, we noticed a difference in the predation rate for each species during the two experimental periods. The light phase exhibits the highest predatory efficacy than the twilight phase.

KEYWORDS:

• Biological control
• predators
• mosquitoes
• Culex pipiens
• aquatic invertebrates

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The National Fund supported this work for Scientific Research to Pr. H. Boudjelida (Laboratory of Applied Animal Biology) and the Ministry of High Education and Scientific Research of Algeria to Pr. F. Bendali-Saoudi [PRFU project no. D01N01UN230120190005].