Mosquito control by plankton management: the potential of indigestible green algae

Most kinds of phytoplankton are good food for mosquito larvae. However, Culex, Aedes and Anopheles larvae fail to develop successfully in water where certain species of closely related green algae in the order Chlorococcales are the main source of food; apparently because the larvae are unable to digest them. Many species of Scenedesmus, Kirchneriella, Dactylococcus, Elakotothrix, Tetrallantos, Coelastrum, Selenastrum and Tetradesmus have this effect. These algae may offer a practical possibility for mosquito control when introduced into mosquito breeding habitats. Introduction of these algae could be assisted by simultaneous introduction of select filter-feeding zooplankton such as Daphnia.