Lethal and non-lethal effects of the predator Erythemis simplicicollis on Culex quinquefasciatus

The study of interactions among medically important mosquitoes, their predators, and their competitors has the potential to offer insight into patterns of population and disease outbreaks as well as control methods. Here, we investigate the effects of a predator, Erythemis simplicicollis (Odonata: Libellulidae) on varying densities of larval Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) survivorship and how non-lethal effects carry over to affect adult mosquito condition in a lab setting. Survivorship from the larval to adult stage was measured and non-lethal effects of E. simpliciollis exerted on Cx. quinquefasciatus were examined by measuring wing length of adults collected from each treatment. We found, at most densities, E. simpliciollis was successful in reducing survivorship of Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae as well as reducing wing length compared with no predator controls. These data suggest larval predators can ultimately help regulate adult mosquito populations. Consequent field data will allow the investigation of how ecological factors such as predator communities and habitat structure may impact mosquito abundance and survivorship from larval to adult stages which will be the next step in understanding medically important mosquito population outbreaks and mosquito-vectored disease outbreaks.