Astronotus ocellatus (Cichlidae:Pisces) and Macropodus opercularis (Anabatidae:Pisces) as predators of immature Aedes fluviatilis (Diptera:Culicidae) and Biomphalaria glabrata (Mollusca:Planorbidae).
Two fish species, Astronotus ocellatus (Cichlidae) and Macropodus opercularis (Anabatidae) were tested for predacious behavior toward immature mosquitoes (Aedes fluviatilis, Diptera:Culicidae) and schistosomiasis snail hosts (Biomphalaria glabrata, Mollusca:Planorbidae), in the presence or absence of non-living food and in laboratory conditions. A. ocellatus, a species indigenous to Brazil, was a very efficient predator of both organisms (alpha = 0.05); M. opercularis, an exotic species, preyed well on immature mosquitoes, but small snails and snail egg-masses were ingested only irregularly. Both fish species seemed to prefer live to non-living food.
Consoli
R A
RA
Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
Guimarães
C T
CT
do Carmo
J A
JA
Soares
D M
DM
dos Santos
J S
JS
D000330:Aedes; D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria; D005399:Fishes; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*