title: Differential toxicity of leaf litter to dipteran larvae of mosquito developmental sites.
abstract: The relative toxicity of leaf litter to nematocerous dipteran larvae characteristic of mosquito developmental sites was investigated. Culicidae, Chironomidae, and Simuliidae taxa originating from alpine hydrosystems were tested together with two laboratory nonindigenous culicid taxa. Bioassays indicate that ingestion of 10-month-old decaying leaves from Alnus glutinosa, Populus nigra, and Quercus robur by larvae is more deleterious for Aedes aegypti, A. albopictus, Culex pipiens, Simulium variegatum, and Chironomus annularius than for A. rusticus. Histopathological observations reveal that the midgut epithelium is the main target organ of the toxic effect of dietary leaf litter, which appears to be stronger than that of previously reported tannic acid. There is a general response of the nematocerous larval midgut epithelium to dietary tannins-phenolic compounds: clear cells of the anterior midgut showing symptoms of intoxication before dark cells of the posterior midgut.
authors.affiliation: UMR Ecosystèmes et Changements Environnementaux, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble Cedex 9, F-38041, France.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pautou
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Meyran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002683:Chironomidae / Q000187:drug effects; D009033:Culicidae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects; D004175:Diptera / Q000187:drug effects*; D004435:Eating; D004463:Ecology; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D012843:Simuliidae / Q000187:drug effects; D013634:Tannins / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D010636:Phenols; D013634:Tannins