The life history and mosquito consumption dynamics of Notonecta indica (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) in eastern Jamaica

Certain mosquito species pose a significant threat to human health, causing thousands of deaths annually via diseases such as yellow fever, dengue fever, and chikungunya. A variety of insects, including dragonflies and backswimmers, prey on mosquito larvae, providing natural population suppression, but knowledge of the life history and quantification of the mosquito suppression dynamics of these insects remain limited in the Caribbean. In the present study, we documented aspects of the life history of the backswimmer Notonecta indica L. in Jamaica and quantified its consumption of Aedes aegypti (L.) larvae throughout development and at different mosquito densities. The egg and fifth nymphal stages had the longest mean development times while the third nymphal stage had the shortest. Development was noted to be shorter in N. indica when compared to other backswimmer species from different climates, likely due to higher temperatures and greater food availability in the present study. Daily mosquito consumption increased exponentially throughout nymphal development. Individual adults displayed significant variation in daily mosquito consumption, and consumption was found to be directly proportional to mosquito density. Backswimmers may contribute to mosquito suppression and the reduction of mosquito-borne diseases, but their contribution is likely limited by the spatial and temporal differences between backswimmers and mosquitoes, namely, in habitat preferences, dispersal patterns, and development times.