Methionine as an Effective Mosquito Larvicide in Natural Water Sources

Methionine is a naturally occurring amino acid that has demonstrated toxic properties for control of larval mosquitoes in laboratory experiments. Methionine offers many desirable qualities for an effective, biorational pesticide, including its minimal effects on non-target species. Because previous...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Florida entomologist Vol. 103; no. 4; pp. 479 - 483
Main Authors Richardson, Elise A., Abruzzo, Nicole O., Taylor, Caitlin E., Stevens, Bruce R., Cuda, James P., Weeks, Emma N. I.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Lutz Florida Entomological Society 01.12.2020
Subjects
Aedes aegypti
Amino acids
Aquatic insects
bioracional
biorational
concentración letal
Containers
Culicidae
Deionization
Diptera
Entomology
estanque
Insects
Laboratories
Larvae
larvas
Larvicides
lethal concentration
Methionine
Mortality
Mortality causes
Mosquitoes
Pathogens
pesticida
pesticide
Pesticides
pond
Ponds
Reptiles & amphibians
Toxicity
Toxicity tests
Tropical diseases
Vectors
Water
Florida
United States > US
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Summary:Methionine is a naturally occurring amino acid that has demonstrated toxic properties for control of larval mosquitoes in laboratory experiments. Methionine offers many desirable qualities for an effective, biorational pesticide, including its minimal effects on non-target species. Because previous studies regarding this amino acid's toxicity were laboratory based, the next step is to establish if methionine is likely to have similar effects in natural water bodies before attempting costly field trials. Therefore, the goal of this study was to test the effectiveness of DL-methionine applied to various water sources. Concentration response experiments conducted in glass jars used larval Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) as a model organism. Well, deionized, and pond water were evaluated in the study. In general, increased mortality of Ae. aegypti larvae occurred with increasing concentrations of DL-methionine at 48 h. However, larval DL-methionine LC50 values were not different between water sources. This study has shown that DL-methionine can be added to various water sources as a possible biorational larvicide when applied to natural water sources such as ponds or water-holding containers that often are preferred larval developmental sites for a variety of mosquito disease vectors.
ISSN:0015-4040
1938-5102
DOI:10.1653/024.103.00410