A laboratory evaluation of the microsporidian Vavraia culicis as an agent for mosquito control |
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Authors: | James F Kelly Darrell W Anthony Charles R Dillard |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Entomology and Nematology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 USA;2. Insects Affecting Man and Animals Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research, Science and Education Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, Florida 32604 USA |
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Abstract: | The susceptibility of the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti, Aedes taeniorhynchus, Anopheles albimanus, Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus, Culex salinarius, and Culex tarsalis to infection by the microsporidian Vavraia culicis was determined. Using 18-hr exposures to 5 × 103, 1 × 104, 5 × 104, and 1 × 105 spores/ml, C. salinarius, C. tarsalis, and A. albimanus were found to be significantly more susceptible than A. aegypti. The most severe infections were observed in C. salinarius and C. tarsalis, although heavy infections of approximately 1 million spores per adult were recorded at the higher dosages in all species tested except A. aegypti. Production trials indicated that up to 5.4 × 108 spores could be routinely produced in individual corn earworms, Heliothis zea. Inactivation of the spores by sunlight was measured by observing the subsequent incidence of infection and spore production in A. albimanus. These two measurements provided an LT90 of 5.5 and 3.3 hr, respectively. |
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Keywords: | mosquito biological control sunlight inactivation |
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