Release of Mesocyclops aspericornis (Copepoda) for Control of Larval Aedes polynesiensis (Diptera: Culicidae) in Land Crab Burrows on an Atoll of French Polynesia

Abstract

On Tereia Island, Rangiroa Atoll, 14,321 land crab burrows were treated with the copepod Mesocyclops aspericornis from January to June 1986, to control larvae of Aedes polynesiensis marks. In October 1987, the entire island of Tereia was retreated (17,300 burrows), and the neighboring island, Voisin, was left untreated as a control. From 5 to 15 mo after treatment, burrows with M. aspericornis contained an average of 2 Ae. polynesiensis immatures compared with 97 immatures from untreated burrows. Long-term larval control was successful in low-lying areas where burrows remained wet or were reflooded. Although there may have been other contributing factors, the major reason for lack of persistence of M. aspericornis in burrows over the entire island appeared to be poor resistance to desiccation. From all treated burrows in October 1987, M. aspericornis subsequently was found in 89.5, 39.1, and 24.1% of burrows sampled 5, 8, and 15 mo after treatment, respectively. The broad-scale results for Tereia indicated that there was no reduction of adult biting indices when compared with Voisin. Mark-release experiments on four occasions indicated that Ae. polynesiensis had a limited flight range and that the probability for interisland movement was low.

Toxicity effect of Delonix elata (Yellow Gulmohr) and predatory efficiency of Copepod, Mesocyclops aspericornis for the control of dengue vector, Aedes aegypti

“…According to Lardeux et al [25] , M. aspericornis served as a good biocontrol agent against Ae. aegypti within a three-weeks time period whereas the maximum predatory capacity of M. apericornis was found to be 49.3 (mean value) and the minimum 39.3.…”

Use of plant products and copepods for control of the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti

“…M. aspericornis is a widely distributed species known to control several mosquito species. Surveys have shown that M. aspericornis is abundant in natural freshwater sources (Lardeux et al, 1992;Russell et al, 1996;Nam et al, 2000) M. aspericornis is a dominant species found in artesian wells and peridomestic containers in eastern Thailand. It has been shown to be an effective predator of Ae.…”

Laboratory and field efficacy of Pedalium murex and predatory copepod, Mesocyclops longisetus on rural malaria vector, Anopheles culicifacies

“…Similar investigations have also been done using Mesocyclops spp. in conjunction with other controlling methods and resulting in eradication mosquitoes [35][36][37][38] . Larvivorous copepods such as Macrocyclops albidus, M. longisetus and Mesocyclops aspericornis are highly effective for controlling Aedes sp.…”

“…culicifacies larvae was assessed by placing single adult copepod in tissue culture plate wells (35 mm diameter, 18 mm depth) with newly hatched first instar larvae in the laboratory condition. The predatory nature and the rate of predatory efficiency of adult M. longisetus on mosquito larvae were observed under a stereomicroscope.…”