Journal of Medical Entomology (1992) 29, 236-241

L.P. Lounibos, N. Nishimura and L.B. Dewald (1992)
Predation of Mansonia (Diptera: Culicidae) by native mosquitofish in southern Florida
Journal of Medical Entomology 29 (2), 236-241
Abstract: In experimental tanks and wading pools, the mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki reduced densities of Mansonia larvae which, because of their attachment to the roots of aquatic plants, have been regarded previously as relatively impervious to predation. Exoskeletal remains of larval Mansonia were recovered from 43.5% of stomachs dissected from G. holbrooki, but not from Heterandria formosa (least killifish) collected from two undisturbed ponds covered with water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.). After 24 h in aquaria exposed to ambient light, predation by G. holbrooki reduced densities of Mansonia on water lettuce to one-third that of controls but in the dark, no significant differences were observed. In reduced light, densities of second- and fourth-instar Mansonia were reduced significantly after 1 wk of exposure to G. holbrooki. Video recordings of predation in aquaria revealed that G. holbrooki glean water lettuce roots to locate attached Mansonia and also capture free-swimming, dislodged larvae.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): L. Philip Lounibos

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Mansonia dyari		U.S.A. (SE)
Gambusia holbrooki (predator)	Mansonia dyari		U.S.A. (SE)