Cyclopoid Copepods

Abstract

Cyclopoid copepods have proved more effective for practical mosquito control than any other invertebrate predator of mosquito larvae. Their operational potential is enhanced by the fact that mass production is relatively easy and inexpensive. The exceptional potential of copepods for mosquito control was first realized about 25 years ago. Since then, laboratory experiments with copepods and mosquito larvae around the world have shown: Only the larger copepod species (body length > 1.4 mm) are of practical use for mosquito control. They kill mainly 1st instar mosquitoes. The most effective species have the capacity to kill more than 40 Aedes larvae/copepod/day. They generally kill fewer Anopheles larvae and even fewer Culex larvae. Most field testing of copepods has been in Aedes container-breeding habitats. Field tests have shown that: The most effective copepod species maintain large populations in a container habitat for as long as there is water. They typically reduce Aedes production by 99-100%. They can cause local eradication of container-breeding Aedes mosquitoes if present in a high percentage of breeding sites. Field surveys in Anopheles, floodwater Aedes, and Culex breeding habitats have shown that natural copepod populations can substantially reduce, or even eliminate, mosquito production. Field trials in temporary pools, marshes, and rice fields have demonstrated that introduction of the right copepod species to the right habitat at the right time can eliminate Anopheles or floodwater Aedes larvae. As a rule, copepods cannot eliminate Culex production by themselves, but they can reinforce and augment control by other methods. The only large-scale operational use of copepods to date has been in Vietnam, which has achieved local eradication of Ae. aegypti in hundreds of villages. Conditions in Vietnam are particularly favorable because: Many Ae. aegypti breeding sites are water storage containers that are conspicuous and easily treated. Motivation to maintain copepods in containers for Ae. aegypti control is strong because of the high incidence of dengue hemorrhagic fever. Copepod use is effectively managed by women's associations already experienced with neighborhood health services. Copepods have the potential for local eradication of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in many other countries besides Vietnam. Professional capacity for copepod management and social institutions for community participation to help with implementation and maintenance are the main factors limiting broader use of copepods for operational mosquito control at the present time.

Female-specific flightless phenotype for mosquito control

“…Distribution of eggs to communities, public bodies, and/or private citizens would allow much greater community involvement than is typical for current SIT programs. Community engagement and involvement is now seen as crucial to long-term sustainability of vector control programs (33)(34)(35). Furthermore, the tolerance of Ae.…”

Predator-Prey Model for Analysis of Aedes Aegypti Population Dynamics in Cali, Colombia

“…On the other hand, many scholars had claimed that large species of cyclopoid copepods (such as Macrocyclops, Megacyclops, and Mesacyclops) are more effective for practical mosquito control than any other invertebral predator of mosquito larvae (see [21] and references therein). Curiously, these tiny crustaceans (about 1-1,5 mm long) possess some remarkable biological characteristics, which are clearly explained in the textbook [20].…”

Predation efficiency of copepods against the new invasive mosquito species Aedes koreicus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Italy

“…Cyclopoid copepods (Copepoda: Cyclopoida; hereafter referred to as copepods) are the most effective invertebrate mosquito predators (Veronesi et al 2015). Because they survive for several months in artificial containers, they provide long-lasting control of mosquito populations (Marten & Reid 2007;Veronesi et al 2015). Copepods prey mainly on first and second instar mosquito larvae, and the largest copepod species (> 1.4 mm body length) can kill up to 30-40 Aedes larvae per day (Marten & Reid 2007).…”

“…Because they survive for several months in artificial containers, they provide long-lasting control of mosquito populations (Marten & Reid 2007;Veronesi et al 2015). Copepods prey mainly on first and second instar mosquito larvae, and the largest copepod species (> 1.4 mm body length) can kill up to 30-40 Aedes larvae per day (Marten & Reid 2007). Because copepods are usually numerically abundant in water bodies and mass production is simple and relatively inexpensive, they are considered cost-effective biological control agents (Lazaro et al 2015).…”

“…To date, the predatory efficiency of about 50 copepod species belonging to 15 genera has been tested mostly in the laboratory, but also in the field, mainly against Aedes and Culex mosquitoes (Marten & Reid 2007;Veronesi et al 2015). Two taxa of cyclopoids have proved to be particularly effective for controlling Aedes species such as Ae.…”