Factors influencing the predation rates of Anisops breddini (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) feeding on mosquito larvae


Submitted: 25 April 2014
Accepted: 9 July 2014
Published: 21 December 2014
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Authors

  • R. Weterings Cat Drop Foundation, Drachten, The Netherlands; Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Naresuan University, Thailand.
  • K.C. Vetter Faculty of Ecology, University of Bremen, Germany.
  • C. Umponstira Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Naresuan University, Thailand.
Notonectidae are a family of water bugs that are known to be important predators of mosquito larvae and have great potential in the biological control of vector mosquitoes. An experiment was conducted to assess mosquito larvae predation by Anisops breddini, a species common to Southeast Asia. The predation rates were recorded in context of prey density, predator density, predator size and prey type. Predation rates were strongly affected by prey type and less by prey density and predator density. They ranged between 1.2 prey items per day for pupae of Aedes aegeypti and Armigeres moultoni to 5.9 for Ae. aegypti larvae. Compared with studies on other Notonectidae species, the predation rates appear low, which is probably caused by the relative small size of the specimens used in this study. An. breddini is very common in the region and often found in urban areas; therefore, the species has potential as a biological control agent.

Supporting Agencies

Department of natural resources and Environment, Naresuan University

Weterings, R., Vetter, K., & Umponstira, C. (2014). Factors influencing the predation rates of Anisops breddini (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) feeding on mosquito larvae. Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research, 46(3), 107–111. https://doi.org/10.4081/jear.2014.4036

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