Bio-Control Efficiency of Water Bug Diplonychus Rusticus (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) on Culexmosquito Larvae

Abstract

Mosquito-borne diseases continue to pose a significant public health risk, especially in tropical regions, due to the widespread occurrence of malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and other arboviruses. The extensive use of chemical insecticides has led to resistance in mosquito populations and has been proven to be harmful to a host of non-target organisms. As an environmentally friendly alternative, biological control using natural predators has gained attention. This study evaluates the bio-control efficiency of the water bug Diplonychus rusticus (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) against Culex mosquito larvae, a known vector of many diseases. Specimens of D. rusticus were collected from Dalvoy Lake, Mysore, and tested in controlled laboratory conditions for their predatory impact (PI) and clearance rate (CR) on fourth instar Culex larvae. The results showed that D. rusticus effectively preys on Culex larvae, with a predatory impact of 3.13 larvae per hour and a clearance rate of 2.167 larvae per liter/day. The findings suggest that D. rusticus holds potential as a bio-control agent, offering a promising alternative to chemical interventions in vector control programs. Further research into the application of this predator in natural aquatic habitats could aid in managing mosquito populations and mitigating the widespread dissemination of mosquito-borne diseases.