Eco-friendly dengue control using Toxorhynchites brevipalpis, a natural predator of Aedes aegypti larvae in Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND

Larvae of elephant mosquitoes, Toxorhynchites spp. (Diptera: Culicidae), are obligate predators of other mosquito larvae and small aquatic organisms. This predatory behaviour offers potential for the biological control of vector mosquitoes in shared breeding habitats.

METHODS

This study evaluated the feeding behaviour of Toxorhynchites brevipalpis on Aedes aegypti in relation to sample origin, prey density, prey condition, and the presence of alternative prey species. Laboratory experiments assessed functional responses under varying prey densities, whereas field experiments measured the predatory impact under natural conditions.

RESULTS

Prey consumption by T. brevipalpis was inversely related to the search area and positively correlated with prey density, demonstrating a density-dependent functional response. Regression analysis confirmed a significant negative effect of an increased search area on predation rate. Differences in feeding responses across breeding sites and prey conditions were statistically significant, indicating consistent predator efficiency across habitat types. Under both laboratory and field conditions, T. brevipalpis significantly reduced larval survival.

CONCLUSION

The findings demonstrate that T. brevipalpis exerts strong density-dependent predation on container-breeding mosquitoes and can substantially reduce Ae. aegypti larval survival. Its effectiveness under varying search areas and prey densities conditions support its potential as an environmentally sustainable biological control agent for dengue vectors. The use of T. brevipalpis may represent a viable complementary strategy for vector management in endemic regions, such as Burkina Faso.