Observations on the predatory potential of Lutzia fuscana on Aedes aegypti larvae: implications for biological control (Diptera: Culicidae)

Among the natural predators, larval stages of the mosquito <em>Lutzia fuscana (</em>Wiedemann, 1820) (Diptera: Culicidae) bear potential as a biological control agent of mosquitoes. An estimation of the predatory potential of the larva of <em>L. fuscana</em> against the larva of the dengue vector <em>Aedes aegypti</em> (Linnaeus, 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae) was made to highlight its use in vector management. Laboratory experiments revealed that the larva of<em> L</em>. <em>fuscana</em> consumes 19 to 24 <em>A. aegypti</em> larvae per day, during its tenure as IV instar larva. The consumption of <em>A. aegypti</em> larvae was proportionate to the body length (BL) and body weight (BW) of the predatory larva<em> L. fuscana</em> as depicted through the logistic regressions: y = 1 / (1 + exp(-(-2.09 + 0.35*BL))) and y = 1 / (1 + exp(-(0.4+ 0.06*BW))). While the prey consumption remained comparable among the days, the net weight gained by the <em>L</em>. <em>fuscana</em> larva showed a decreasing trend with the age. On the basis of the results, it is apparent that the larva of the mosquito <em>L. fuscana</em> can be used in the regulation of the mosquito <em>A. aegypti</em> through augmentative release, particularly, in the smaller mosquito larval habitats