Native Argentinean Cyclopoids (Crustacea: Copepoda) as predators of Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes.

TRANCHIDA, M. C.; MICIELI, M. V; MACIA, A; GARCÍA, J.J.

REVISTA DE BIOLOGíA TROPICAL

Universidad de Costa Rica

Lugar: San José de Costa Rica; Año: 2008

0034-7744

We conducted a survey of copepods near La Plata, Argentina, with the aims of identify the local community of larvivorous copepods living in mosquito breeding sites, and search for new predator species of the mosquitoes from artificial containers, Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens. Diversity of larvivorous cyclopoids was highest in permanent pools. Acanthocyclops robustus, Diacyclops uruguayensis, Macrocyclops albidus and Mesocyclops longisetus were selected by its predatory capacity on mosquito larvae. We examined predation capacity of both sexes and age of copepods, preference of predation on mosquito species, and daily predation during five days. Female copepods presented the highest predatory capacity. No predatory preference on both mosquito species was found. According to overall predation potential, copepods were ranked as follows: D. uruguayensis < A. robustus < M. albidus < M. longisetus. Copepod tolerance to desiccation and ability to withstand on water from artificial containers was also evaluated. Diacyclops uruguayensis and A. robustus survived under dry conditions, but D. uruguayensis showed lower survival in water from cemetery flower vases. Macrocyclops albidus did not survive under dry conditions and did not tolerate water extracted from artificial containers. Mesocyclops longisetus survival was not severely reduced after dryness and after being bred in water from flower vases. We conclude that the Neotropical cyclopoids D. uruguayensis and A. robustus could be viewed as a good candidates and deserves further research as biological control agents of mosquitoes.