Life cycle of water bug, Diplonychus rusticus F. (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) on aedes aegypti l. (Diptera: Culicidae) as prey
Issue Date
10-2013
Abstract
The life cycle of predatory water bug, Diplonychus rusticus (Hemiptera: Belostomidae), was studied in the laboratory using larvae of Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) as prey. The predator underwent five nymphal instars which last for an average of 37.88 ± 0.84 days. Mean duration of first, second, third, fourth, and fifth nymphal instars were 4.62 ± 0.16, 4.22 ± 0.15, 5.24 ± 0.24, 8.04 ± 0.51 and 15.76 ± 0.60 days, respectively. From first to fifth nymphal instar the predator consumed about 1500 third instar mosquito larvae. Reproducing females consumed an average of 900 fourth instar mosquito larvae in six days. Within the 200 days observation period, adults were still alive and females had laid 10 egg cluster with an average of 76 eggs per cluster with incubation period of 6.45 ± 0.14 days and 97.30% hatchability. With the long life span, high reproductive capacity and voraciousness exhibited by the water bug in the laboratory, it could be a promising biological control agent against dengue mosquito vector.
Source or Periodical Title
The Philippine Entomologist
ISSN
0048-3753
Volume
27
Issue
2
Page
207
Document Type
Article
Frequency
semi-annually
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Javier, Pio A.; Albaytar, Annabelle B.; and Millanes, Jay-R, "Life cycle of water bug, Diplonychus rusticus F. (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) on aedes aegypti l. (Diptera: Culicidae) as prey" (2013). Journal Article. 4816.
https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/journal-articles/4816
En – AGROVOC descriptors
HEMIPTERA; AEDES AEGYPTI; CULICIDAE; INSTARS; NYMPHS; PREDATION; BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS; LIFE CYCLE