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4 November 2021 Predator selection and predator-prey interactions for the biological control of mosquito dengue vectors in northern Vietnam
Cuong Van Duong, Uyen Thi Phuong Tran, Vinh Van Nguyen, Yeon Jae Bae
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Abstract

Predators and their interactions with target prey influence the efficiency of control strategies. In the present study, we demonstrate the implementation of natural predator selection for controlling dengue vectors in northern Vietnam through field-based observation of aquatic insect predators in natural habitats and lab-based assessment of predatorial capacities for several aquatic insect predators. The selected species was then used to evaluate the predatory-prey interaction using functional responses (FRs) toward 3rd- and 4th-instar larvae of four major medical mosquito species (Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Anopheles minimus). The preference of selected predators for Ae. aegypti larvae over other mosquito larvae was also investigated. Both field observation and lab experiments indicated that the giant water bug Diplonychus rusticus was abundant and exhibited the highest predatory capacity for mosquito larvae. The predator exhibited type II FRs when offered each of the four prey species, and the greatest attack rates were observed for Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, with only negligible differences observed in the handling times of the prey species. Further, Manly's selectivity (α) values calculated from the prey choice experiments showed that Ae. aegypti was preferred over both Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. minimus. Together, these findings indicate that D. rusticus could be successfully used to facilitate the biological control of both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus within the species' distributional overlap in Southeast Asia.

Cuong Van Duong, Uyen Thi Phuong Tran, Vinh Van Nguyen, and Yeon Jae Bae "Predator selection and predator-prey interactions for the biological control of mosquito dengue vectors in northern Vietnam," Journal of Vector Ecology 46(2), 163-172, (4 November 2021). https://doi.org/10.52707/1081-1710-46.2.163
Received: 20 February 2021; Accepted: 17 April 2021; Published: 4 November 2021
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KEYWORDS
Aedes aegypti
Aedes albopictus
biological mosquito control
Diplonychus rusticus
functional response
Prey preference
tropical Southeast Asia
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