title: Predatory potential of Platynectes sp. (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) on Aedes albopictus, the vector of dengue/chikungunya in Kerala, India.
abstract: Unused and discarded latex collection containers (LCCs) are the major breeding habitats of Aedes albopictus in the rubber plantations of Kerala, India. Platynectes sp. (Family: Dytiscidae) was observed to invade these habitats during the monsoon season and voraciously devour the larval instars of this major vector species of arbo-viral diseases. Field observations showed a reduction of 70.91% (p = 0.0017) and 100% in Aedes larval density, on the first and four days post release of eight beetles per LCC respectively. In laboratory, a beetle was found to devour 17.75 + 5.0 late larval instars of Ae. albopictus per day. Our findings indicate Platynectes sp. could be a potential bio-control agent against Ae. albopictus, the vector of chikungunya/dengue fevers, in rubber plantations.
authors.affiliation: Vector Control Research Centre Field Station (ICMR), Kottayam-686002, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Vector Control Research Centre Field Station (ICMR), Kottayam-686002, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.affiliation: Vector Control Research Centre Field Station (ICMR), Kottayam-686002, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abidha
authors.affiliation: Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR), Indira Nagar, Puducherry-605006, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabesan
authors.affiliation: Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR), Indira Nagar, Puducherry-605006, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jambulingam
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes; D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D004199:Disease Vectors; D007194:India; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods; D011235:Predatory Behavior