Predation Efficiency of Non-Blood Sucking Mosquito Larvae of Toxorhynchites splendens  (Weidman) Determined by Kruskal–Wallis One-Way Analysis of Variance by Ranks over Immature  Stages of Malaria (Anopheles stephensi), Filariasis (Culex quinquefasciatus)

P.  Basker

P. Basker Former Consultant Entomologist, Division of Zoonotic Diseases Programme (DZDP), National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Delhi, India.

Keywords: Biological Control, Toxorhinchites splendens, Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypt

Abstract

Introduction: Biological control is a component of the integrated vector control strategy. Its aquatic habitat, which is safe for non-target organisms and appropriate for coexistence with target organisms and predators
without the presence of predator’ enemies, is its limitation in terms of mosquito larval control.
Methods: A predator Toxorhynchites splendens second instar larva was used in this study to consume immature stages of the second and third instars of Anopheline stephensi Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti. The immature stages were raised in a rectangular enamel-coated tray that measured 17 x 12 x 6 inches and was filled with enough chlorinefree water in a lab at the Institute of Vector Control and Zoonoses (IVCZ),
Hosur. To assess the predator's effectiveness, the number of preys it consumed was noted. A nonparametric ANOVA was used to model the relationship between three distinct prey intakes and time.
Results: This led to finding that Anopheles stephensi, the malaria vector, was the predator's first choice in order of preference, followed by Culex quinquefasciatus, the vector of filaria, and Aedes aegypti, the vector
of dengue. It became clear that the predator prioritized the Anopheles stephensi larvae as its primary source of food even all three of these types were present altogether.
Conclusion: The potential predator of Anopheles stephensi larvae, which is the malaria vector, is larvae Toxorhynchites splendens, a non-blodd sucking mosquito species.

How to cite this article:
Basker P. Predation Efficiency of Non-Blood
Sucking Mosquito Larvae of Toxorhynchites
splendens (Weidman) Determined by Kruskal–
Wallis One-Way Analysis of Variance by Ranks
over Immature Stages of Malaria (Anopheles
stephensi), Filariasis (Culex quinquefasciatus) and
Dengue (Aedes aegypti) Vectors. J Commun Dis.
2024;56(3):127-130.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202457

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