Modelling prey-predator cycles using hemipteran predators of mosquito larvae for reducing world-wide mosquito-borne...

Diplonychus indicus is an aquatic hemipterous bug known to be a voracious predator of dipteran larvae, among others, and to show a selective predation for mosquito larvae when exposed to a mixed prey diet. A datum consisted of the percentage of the fourth instar of (25) culicine mosquitoes killed by the bug. Data around the clock, published earlier (from starved adult males of this bug), reanalyzed by single cosinor, reveal a circasemidian rhythm (p = 0.004). This result prompts the recommendation of studying the time structure of prey-predator cycles further to evaluate the merits or demerits of introducing the bug in the field with the aim of reducing worldwide mosquito-borne disease incidence.