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Predatory behavior and potentiality of Toxorhynchites spp. (Diptera: Culicidae) against Aedes mosquito

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A Correction to this article was published on 17 June 2024

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Abstract

Toxorhynchites mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), also known as elephant mosquitoes or mosquito eaters, are the largest mosquitoes globally and do not bite humans but prey on other mosquito larvae. We used a dip** and pipetting methods to collect larvae of Toxorhynchites spp. and Aedes mosquitoes from discarded tires. In a laboratory study, we investigated how container type, water volume, and depth affect the predation behavior of Toxorhynchites spp., and we also examined its predation efficiency during both day and night. Our research revealed that an individual Toxorhynchites spp. larva can consume up to 45 Aedes larvae, with mean predation of 25.18 (± 9.35) larvae in 24 h. Interestingly, predation rates and impacts remained consistent regardless of container type, water volume, or depth. While predation was more active during the day, there were no significant differences between daytime and nighttime predation abilities. These findings highlight Toxorhynchites spp. larvae as a promising biological control agent for mosquito management in various settings, independent of seasonal or light conditions, especially for the Aedes spp.

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Acknowledgements

We express our gratitude to Nirmal Bajracharya for assisting in the statistical analysis. We extend our appreciation to the Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Bhaktapur Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, and the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology for providing research opportunity. We acknowledge the local government authorities and residents of the study areas for their consistent support during the field survey.

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Bhaktapur Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Bhaktapur, Nepal

    Punya Ram Sukupayo

  2. Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Punya Ram Sukupayo

  3. Molecular Biotechnology Unit, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Lalitpur, Nepal

    Ram Chandra Poudel

  4. Department of Zoology, Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Tirth Raj Ghimire

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  1. Punya Ram Sukupayo
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Contributions

Punya Ram Sukupayo (conceptualization-lead, data curation-lead, formal analysis-lead, investigation-lead, methodology-lead, validation-lead, visualization-lead, writing–original draft-lead, writing–review and editing-lead), Ram Chandra Poudel (conceptualization-supporting, supervision-supporting, validation-supporting, writing–original draft-supporting, writing–review and editing-supporting), Tirth Raj Ghimire (conceptualization-supporting, supervision-supporting, writing–original draft-supporting, writing–review and editing-supporting). All authors read and finalized the submission.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ram Chandra Poudel or Tirth Raj Ghimire.

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The authors have no financial or proprietary interests in any material discussed in this article.

Research involving human and animal rights

The study did not involve human participants and/or vertebrate animals.

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The study contains no individual person’s data in any form. Informed consent is not applicable.

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Handling Editor: Marta Montserrat.

The online original version of this article was revised: the author list was originally published as Punya Ram Sukupayo, Ram Chandra Poudel, Tirth Raj Ghimire and Eric Wajnberg, when it should have been Punya Ram Sukupayo, Ram Chandra Poudel and Tirth Raj Ghimire

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Sukupayo, P.R., Poudel, R.C. & Ghimire, T.R. Predatory behavior and potentiality of Toxorhynchites spp. (Diptera: Culicidae) against Aedes mosquito. BioControl 69, 387–395 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-024-10267-0

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