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Journal of Entomology

Year: 2009 | Volume: 6 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 90-95
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Authors

A.M. Alahmed

S.A. Alamr

S.M. Kheir

Keywords

Research Article

Seasonal Activity and Predatory Efficacy of the Water Bug Sigara hoggarica Poisson (Hemiptera: Corixidae) Against the Mosquito Larvae Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia

A.M. Alahmed, S.A. Alamr and S.M. Kheir
Bioefficacy of the water bug Sigara hoggarica Poisson (Hemiptera: Corixidae) was assessed in the laboratory and in the field (at El Haeir area, South of Riyadh City) in relation to larval and pupal densities of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) during winter and summer seasons. The results revealed that the predatory efficacy was highest against the first larval instar and it decreased as the larvae grew older. The predatory efficacy of the bug during summer was significantly higher than winter. The population of Sigara hoggarica started to increase gradually in November and a peak was attained in next April, when the Mean Water Temperature (MWT), Mean Ambient Temperature (MAT) and Relative Humidity (RH) were 28, 25.5°C and 39.6%, respectively. The activity of the bug started to decline in June and it reached the lowest during August to October, when the water temperature varied between 28 to 30.5°C, the ambient temperature ranged between 26.6 to 34.9°C and the relative humidity varied between 15.5 to 23.1%. It is concluded that the water bug Sigara hoggarica has great potential for control of mosquito larvae in permanent and semi permanent water habitats in Riyadh City, but further studies on prey-predator relationship are required.
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How to cite this article

A.M. Alahmed, S.A. Alamr and S.M. Kheir, 2009. Seasonal Activity and Predatory Efficacy of the Water Bug Sigara hoggarica Poisson (Hemiptera: Corixidae) Against the Mosquito Larvae Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Entomology, 6: 90-95.

DOI: 10.3923/je.2009.90.95

URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=je.2009.90.95

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