engleski

The predation potential of Laccophilus poecilus (Coleoptera: Adephaga) on mosquito larvae Culex pipiens

Increasing negative impact of pesticides on the environment and habitats of various animal species, has forced scientists and researchers to find and improve some alternative solutions. One of the most important alternatives to pesticides is certainly biocontrol of pest species with its natural predator. The water beetle Laccophilus poecilus Klug, 1834 (Coleoptera: Adephaga) is a common member of the freshwater insect communities of the Danube floodplain Kopački rit in the northeast of Croatia. This insect is established predator of dipteran larvae and other organisms. The experiment of his predation potential was made using mosquito larvae of Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 in the laboratory. It was revealed that a single adult could consume 2-42 fourth-instar mosquito larvae per day. Since individuals were not fed for 24 hours before the experiment, the expected number of individualy consumed mosquitoes in the first day was the highest (between 42 and 23 larvae). After that, the number of the consumed larvae is reduced. During seven days of the experiment, individuals have altogether consumed 550 mosquito larvae and each individual consumed on average 10.172 mosquito larvae. By adjusting the theoretical function to the results, best results were obtained using the fourparameters logistic function and determined that predation potential is three larvae per day. However, it should take into account that this was an experiment which was done under controlled conditions, with always the same amount of food, so this form of biocontrol should be additionally researched in the field. Although, it can be assumed that this species play an important role in larval population regulation of mosquitoes and thereby effect on species composition and interactions in the aquatic insect communities of the wetlands.

water beetle; mosquito larvae; predator; prey

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