Toxorhynchites splendens

Toxorhynchites (Toxorhynchites) splendens is a species of non-hematophagous (not blood-feeding) mosquito belonging to the genus Toxorhynchites. It is widely used as a predator to control dengue mosquitoes.[1]

Toxorhynchites splendens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Diptera
Superfamily:
Culicoidea
Family:
Culicidae
Subfamily:
Culicinae
Genus:
Toxorhynchites
Species:
Toxorhynchites splendens

(Wiedemann, 1819)
Synonyms
  • Culex regius Tennent, 1859
  • Megarhina sikkimensis Giles, 1901
  • Megarhinus gilesii Theobald, 1901

Distribution

It shows nearly a cosmopolitan distribution throughout the Old World, except African continent both through human influences and natural methods. It is found in India, Sri Lanka[2] Malaysia, Thailand, New Guinea, Fiji Islands, Philippines, Rotuma Island.[3]

Importance

The large expansion is may be due to naval transport of larva from one place to another. In 1934, these mosquitoes were introduced to Fiji as a method of biological control of Aedes polynesiensis, and in India and Malaysia to control Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus who are prominent vectors of many human diseases.[4] They prefer to consume eggs and larva Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi.[5][6]

Alphamethrin, deltamethrin, Malathion can be used to control the mosquito.[7]

References
  1. "minimus (Theobald)". Systematic Catalog of Culicidae. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  2. "An annotated checklist of mosquitoes of Sri Lanka" (PDF). Man and Biosphere Reserve of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  3. "Species Details : Toxorhynchites splendens (Wiedemann, 1819)". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  4. "The biology of Toxorhynchites mosquitoes and their potential as biocontrol agents" (PDF). Department of Biological Sciences, University of Dundee, UK. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  5. Zuharah, Wan Fatma; Fadzly, Nik; Yusof, Nur Aishah; Dieng, Hamady (2015). "Risky Behaviors: Effects of Toxorhynchites splendens (Diptera: Culicidae) Predator on the Behavior of Three Mosquito Species". Journal of Insect Science. jinsectscience. 15: 128. doi:10.1093/jisesa/iev115. PMC 4626665. PMID 26386041.
  6. "CANNIBALISM AND CARNIVORY IN TOXORHYNCHITES SPLENDENS (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)" (PDF). Vector Control Research Centre. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  7. Das, P. K.; Amalraj, D. D. (1996). "Toxicity of insecticides to Toxorhynchites splendens and three vector mosquitos and their sublethal effect on biocontrol potential of the predator". The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 27 (1): 154–159. PMID 9031419.
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