ODONATA NYMPHS AS POTENTIAL BIOCONTROL AGENT OF MOSQUITO LARVAE IN MALAYSIA

Biocontrol has been proposed as an effective approach in controlling mosquito population. In this study, three Odonata (dragonfly) nymphs (Neurothemis fluctuans, Orthetrum chrysis and O. sabina) were investigated for their feasibility as biocontrol agents against dengue virus vectors Aedes aegypti,...

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Published inSoutheast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health Vol. 53; no. 4; pp. 426 - 435
Main Authors Ramlee, Saleeza, Norma-Rashid, Mohd, Sofian-Azirun
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Bangkok Central Coordinating Board, SEAMEO-TROPMED Project 01.07.2022
Subjects
Biological control
Consumption
Dengue fever
Developmental stages
Insecticides
Laboratories
Larvae
Light
Mosquitoes
Nymphs
Odonata
Population studies
Prey
Public health
Species
Statistical analysis
Tropical diseases
Variance analysis
Vector-borne diseases
Vectors
Viruses
Malaysia
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Summary:Biocontrol has been proposed as an effective approach in controlling mosquito population. In this study, three Odonata (dragonfly) nymphs (Neurothemis fluctuans, Orthetrum chrysis and O. sabina) were investigated for their feasibility as biocontrol agents against dengue virus vectors Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus. Each Odonata nymph species was separately fed each of the mosquito species IV instar larvae maintained at a fixed level by replenishing every three hours for 24 hours under controlled laboratory conditions and 12-hour light-dark period. N. fluctuans and O. sabina nymphs preferred Ae. aegypti as their prey, while O. chrysis favored Cx. quinquefasciatus. Amount of larval consumption is significantly higher during light compared to dark period (p-value <0.05). However, overall there are no significant differences in consumption rates of the three dragonfly nymph species for the test mosquito larvae. Thus, Odonata nymphs are potential biocontrol agents against mosquito vectors of dengue disease.
ISSN:0125-1562
DOI:10.1025/kore.487-454