INSECTS AND OTHER INVERTEBRATE PREDATORS

Abstract

This chapter succeeds Collins and Washino (1985) and Legner (1985). It consists of 3 parts. Initially, the literature since the first edition is reviewed. The latest references cited there were published in 1980 and 1981, respectively. Legner (1995) refers to references until 1995 but the scope is different. Therefore, literature after 1981 is included here with a few earlier references when necessary. Invertebrate predators other than Toxorhynchites and copepods, which are covered in other chapters, are listed irrespective of their potential as biological control agents or pest status of prey mosquitoes. For the most part, only English-language references are included. Regarding biological control of rice field mosquitoes, Lacey and Lacey (1990) provide the complete literature including reports in Proceedings of California Mosquito Control Association, not cited here. Second, predation by invertebrates and its significance in mosquito population dynamics are reviewed. This information is essential for ecologically sound manipulation of pest populations. Contribution of predation in egg and adult stages to dynamics of mosquito populations has not been evaluated quantitatively; therefore, only predation in the larval stage is included here. Larval predation is reviewed by 3 habitat types, namely, ground pools, natural containers (phytotelmata 5 small water bodies on living or dead plants) and artificial containers. Also included here are articles and reviews (Mogi 1981, Barr 1985, Service 1993) published after 1981, from which earlier publications can be traced. Third, difficulties and possibilities of using invertebrate predators for mosquito control are discussed.