Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association (2006) 22, 412-417

Timothy P. Hurst, Brian H. Kay, Michael D. Brown and Peter A. Ryan (2006)
Laboratory evaluation of the effect of alternative prey and vegetation on predation of Culex annulirostris immatures by Australian native fish species
Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 22 (3), 412-417
Abstract: The impact of alternative prey and simulated vegetation on Culex annulirostris Skuse predation efficacy by Australian smelt, Retropinna semoni (Retropinnidae); crimson-spotted rainbowfish, Melanotaenia duboulayi (Melanotaeniidae); empire gudgeon, Hypseleotris compressa (Eleotridae); estuary perchlet, Ambassis marianus (Ambassidae); firetail gudgeon, Hypseleotris galii (Eleotridae); fly-specked hardyhead, Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum (Atherinidae); and Pacific blue-eye, Pseudomugil signifer (Atherinidae), was evaluated in Queensland, Australia. The presence of chironomid midge larvae and tusked frog, Adelotus brevis (Leptodactylidae), tadpoles did not have a significant negative impact on the predation rates of Cx. annulirostris by these 7 fish species. Hypseleotris galii, M. duboulayi, and R. semoni demonstrated strong preference for larvae of Cx. annulirostris over both alternative prey species. In the presence of alternative prey species, the mean predation rate of M. duboulayi on larvae of Cx. annulirostris remained greater than that of other fish species tested. When evaluated at varying densities of simulated vegetation, predation rates of all fish species were similar to those reported in open conditions.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Timothy P. Hurst, Peter A. Ryan, Brian H. Kay

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Culex annulirostris		Australia (NT+QLD)
Melanotaenia duboulayi (predator)	Culex annulirostris		Australia (NT+QLD)
Retropinna semoni (predator)	Culex annulirostris		Australia (NT+QLD)
Hypseleotris galii (predator)	Culex annulirostris		Australia (NT+QLD)