Evaluation of Caribbean strain of macrocyclops and mesocyclops (cyclopoida: cycopoidae) as a biological tool for the dengue vector, aedes aegypti

ABSTRACT

When 15 Caribbean strains of copepods (Cyclopoida Cyclopidae) were assessed for their predation ability against mosquito larvae, Macrocyclops albidus from Nariva, Mesocyclops aspericornis from Oropouche and Me.longisetus from El Socorro, Trinidad, were most effective against Aedes aegypti but not against the nuisance mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus. Me.longisetus and Me.aspericornis prevented any mosquito survival over 25 weeks of observation despite weekly challenges with Aedes aegypti. The copepods were tolerant to dosages of the insecticide temephos which are usually toxic to mosquito larvae. This indicated their ability to be incorporated into an integrated control system of biological and chemical components. Microbial studies done on the copepods showed the presence of only Aeromonas sobria, Pseudomonas sp., Alcaligenes and gram-positive bacilli. The application of these copepods has not yet been recommended for use in drinking water (AU)