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<culicid.htm> [For educational purposes only] Glossary <Principal Natural Enemy Groups > <Citations> <Home> |
DIPTERA, Culicidae -- <Images> & <Juveniles> These are
the mosquitoes, the larvae of a number of genera being predaceous on their
own family, in some of which the habit is obligatory. Others attack a variety of insect larvae
and smaller animals, including Crustacea, that occur in the pools they
inhabit. An early review on
predaceous habits of Culicidae was presented by Howard, Dyar & Knab
(1912). Larvae of Psorophora, Megarhinus, Lutzia, Eucorethra, Chaoborus and Lesticocampa
are very voracious, and even some Anopheles
show a pronounced cannibalistic tendency.
Often the prey is swallowed whole, rather than eaten in pieces
(Clausen 1940/62). Species of the
genera having a restricted habitat in tree holes and similar places are
almost entirely predaceous. Megarhinus is considered valuable in
controlling infestations of pest mosquitoes, and efforts have been made to
introduce various species into several countries (see section on
Medical/Veterinary entomology). Megarhinus splendens Wied. was established in Fiji from Java in 1931
(Clausen 1940/62). References: Please refer to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional
references may be found at: MELVYL
Library ] Clausen,
C. P. 1940. Entomophagous Insects.
McGraw-Hill Book Co., NY. & London. 688 p. |