Journal of Medical Entomology (1992) 29, 599-602

Brian H. Kay, Carlson P. Cabral, Adrian C. Sleigh, Michael D. Brown, Zolide M. Ribeiro and A. Wilson Vasconcelos (1992)
Laboratory ealuation of Brazilian Mesocyclops (Copepoda: Cyclopidae) for mosquito control
Journal of Medical Entomology 29 (4), 599-602
Abstract: In laboratory tests, four different strains of Mesocyclops aspericornis (Daday) collected in or near Fortaleza, Brazil, showed potential as biological control agents of Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquito larvae but were not as effective against Anopheles or Culex. In contrast, the larger M. longisetus (Thiebaud), collected at Fortaleza, killed 100% of Ae. aegypti and Anopheles farauti (Laveran) (No. 1) at larval densities of 200/liter and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) at 25/liter. In cage simulations with Ae. aegypti and Mesocyclops, both copepod species eliminated all immatures in earthenware pots by week 3. Owing to the lack of replacement, all Ae. aegypti adults subsequently died by week 8 or 9. Although both M. longisetus and M. aspericornis showed maximum reproductive potential at 25°C, breeding occurred from 20 to 35°C. Based on these laboratory evaluations, M. longisetus has been selected for field trials in rural villages in Ceará to control Ae. aegypti.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Brian H. Kay

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anopheles farauti
	Aedes aegypti
Mesocyclops longisetus (predator)	Anopheles farauti
Mesocyclops longisetus (predator)	Aedes aegypti		Brazil (NE)
Mesocyclops aspericornis (predator)	Aedes aegypti		Brazil (NE)