Reduction of mosquito larval densities in natural sites after introduction of Romanomermis culicivorax (Nematoda:Mermithidae) in Cuba.
Romanomermis culicivorax Ross & Smith became established in 4 of 6 treated sites and produced high levels of infection in Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann, Culex atratus Theobald, Psorophora confinnis Lynch-Arribálzaga, and Uranotaenia sapphirina Oster-Sacken mosquitoes for 9 wk in 1993. Mean levels of southern house mosquito parasitism ranged from 82 to 83% for Culex quinquefasciatus Say, at 2 sites, from 89 to 95% for An. albimanus at 4 sites, and from 78 to 80% at 2 sites for Cx. atratus, Ps. confinnis, and Un. sapphirina. Results indicated that R. culicivorax has potential use as biological control agent against mosquitoes in several different habitats in Cuba.
Santamarina Mijares
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Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Pedro Kouri," Nacional y Carretera Central, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba.
Perez Pacheco
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D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles; D003462:Cuba; D003465:Culex; D009033:Culicidae; D007814:Larva; D008632:Mermithoidea; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011156:Population Density