Observations on the predatory potential of Lutzia fuscana on Aedes aegypti larvae: implications for biological control (Diptera: Culicidae)

Authors

  • Soujita Pramanik Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata
  • Sampa Banerjee Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata
  • Soumyajit Banerjee Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata
  • Goutam K. Saha Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata
  • Gautam Aditya Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13133/2284-4880/176

Keywords:

Aedes aegypti, Lutzia fuscana, biological control, smaller mosquito larval habitats, larval predation

Abstract

Among the natural predators, larval stages of the mosquito Lutzia fuscana (Wiedemann, 1820) (Diptera: Culicidae) bear potential as a biological control agent of mosquitoes. An estimation of the predatory potential of the larva of L. fuscana against the larva of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae) was made to highlight its use in vector management. Laboratory experiments revealed that the larva of L. fuscana consumes 19 to 24 A. aegypti larvae per day, during its tenure as IV instar larva. The consumption of A. aegypti larvae was proportionate to the body length (BL) and body weight (BW) of the predatory larva L. fuscana as depicted through the logistic regressions: y = 1 / (1 + exp(-(-2.09 + 0.35*BL))) and y = 1 / (1 + exp(-(0.4+ 0.06*BW))). While the prey consumption remained comparable among the days, the net weight gained by the L. fuscana larva showed a decreasing trend with the age. On the basis of the results, it is apparent that the larva of the mosquito L. fuscana can be used in the regulation of the mosquito A. aegypti through augmentative release, particularly, in the smaller mosquito larval habitats.

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Published

2016-12-31

How to Cite

Pramanik, S., Banerjee, S., Banerjee, S., Saha, G. K. and Aditya, G. (2016) “Observations on the predatory potential of Lutzia fuscana on Aedes aegypti larvae: implications for biological control (Diptera: Culicidae)”, Fragmenta entomologica, 48(2), pp. 137–142. doi: 10.13133/2284-4880/176.

Issue

Section

Research Articles