Comparative studies on effects of three chitin synthesis inhibitors on common malaria mosquito (Anopheles quadrimaculatus) larvae
Toxicities of three chitin synthesis inhibitors, including a benzoylphenyl urea insecticide (diflubenzuron) and two naturally occurring peptidyl nucleoside antibiotics (polyoxin D and nikkomycin Z), were evaluated using second-instar larvae of the common malaria mosquito, Anopheles quadrimaculatus (Diptera: Culicidae). Diflubenzuron at 50 mg/L caused 88% of mortality and reduced the body weight of the survivors by 74% in 48-h bioassays. However, neither polyoxin D nor nikkomycin Z at the same concentration caused a significant mortality. Although polyoxin D and nikkomycin Z at 800 mg/L did not cause significant mortalities, they reduced the body weight of the larvae by 39 and 23%, respectively. These results suggested that diflubenzuron affected not only the survivorship but also the development of the mosquito larvae. Such effects are different from those of polyoxin D and nikkomycin Z that are potent inhibitors of fungal chitin synthases.
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