Predation potential of three flatworm species (Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria) on mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) |
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Authors: | María C Tranchida Arnaldo Maci Francisco Brusa María V Micieli Juan J García |
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Institution: | aCentro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores, CEPAVE (CONICET – CCT La Plata – UNLP), calle 2 No 584, (1900) La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina;bDivisión Zoología Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque, (1900) La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
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Abstract: | We conducted a field survey for flatworms to select species as potential biological control agents against Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens (Diptera, Culicidae) breeding in artificial containers. Laboratory experiments were performed to determine the daily predation rate, differential predation on each mosquito larval instar, selective predation on either A. aegypti or C. pipiens, and predator tolerance to water from artificial containers. Girardia anceps (Tricladida, Paludicola, Dugesiidae), Mesostoma ehrenbergii and Bothromesostoma cf. evelinae (Rhabdocoela, Typhloplanoida, Typhloplanidae) were found in temporary puddles and permanent pools. In the laboratory, they killed between 52% and 100% of immature mosquitoes coexisting in the same habitat. No preference of flatworms for mosquito preys was detected. Predation rate was related to predator size and instar of preys. Girardia anceps and B. evelinae survived after a dry period and when re-flooding occurred, they laid eggs. Tolerance to water from artificial containers was highest in G. anceps and this species could be a suitable predator to reduce mosquito populations from artificial containers using an inoculative approach. |
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Keywords: | Flatworms Turbellaria Bothromesostoma cf evelinae Girardia anceps Mesostoma ehrenbergii Mosquitoes Culex pipiens Aedes aegypti Biological control |
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