Mosquito Microbiology and Nanotechnology Research Units, Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, 713104, West Bengal, India.
Department of Zoology, Banwarilal Bhalotia College, Ushagram, Asansol, 713303, West Bengal, India.
Sci Rep. 2023 May 6;13(1):7403. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-34651-5.
Larvae of the elephant mosquitoes, Toxorhynchites spp. (Diptera: Culicidae) are predacious on larvae of other mosquito species and some small aquatic organisms; this predatory behavior can be applied in (mosquito) vector control. The present study examined the feeding behavior of Toxorhynchites splendens on Aedes albopictus in relation to search area [volume of water (X1)] and prey density (X2), prey instars, predatory preference and larvae's functional response on variable prey densities. Experiments were conducted to determine changes in the feeding activity of T. splendens with different search areas and showed that rate of prey consumption was inversely proportional to the search area as evidenced by a negative value of X1 in the regression equation and positively related to prey density. The non-linear polynomial logistic regression estimated a significant linear parameter (P < 0) for the functional response analysis suggesting a Type II functional response. Differences in feeding response related to the different combinations of prey instars were statistically not significant (p > 0.05), expressing that all the instars of prey were equally susceptible to the predator. Toxorhynchites splendens preferred to consume Ae. albopictus larvae rather than Tubifex when supplied together as a food source.
象鼻虫的幼虫，Toxorhynchites spp.（双翅目：蚊科）捕食其他蚊子的幼虫和一些小型水生生物；这种捕食行为可应用于（蚊子）病媒控制。本研究调查了 Toxorhynchites splendens 对 Aedes albopictus 的取食行为与搜索区域[水体积（X1）]和猎物密度（X2）、猎物龄期、捕食偏好以及幼虫在可变猎物密度下的功能反应之间的关系。进行实验以确定 T. splendens 在不同搜索区域下取食活动的变化，并表明猎物消耗率与搜索区域呈反比，这反映在回归方程中 X1 的负值，并且与猎物密度呈正相关。非线性多项式逻辑回归估计功能反应分析的显著线性参数（P<0），表明存在 II 型功能反应。与猎物龄期不同组合相关的取食反应差异在统计学上无显著性差异（p>0.05），表明所有龄期的猎物对捕食者同样敏感。当作为食物来源一起供应时，Toxorhynchites splendens 更倾向于捕食 Ae. albopictus 幼虫而不是 Tubifex。
