Malathion influences competition between Aedes albopictus and Aedes japonicus

Banugopan Kesavaraju, Barry W. Alto, A. Afify, R. Gaugler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Competitive interactions may facilitate or repel invaders into new communities, and these interactions may depend on other environmental conditions such as the presence of pesticides. Malathion is widely used in controlling agricultural pests and mosquitoes worldwide. Small amounts of malathion, previously considered inconsequential, may in fact increase in lethality when combined with biotic stressors in aquatic systems. We tested whether low concentrations of malathion (0.11 ppm) that are often detected in aquatic systems, affect competition between two invasive mosquito species Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Aedes japonicus Theobald. There were no survivors of Ae. japonicus larvae in malathion. There was a significant negative effect of Ae. japonicus density on Ae. albopictus survival, but this effect was absent in the presence of malathion. There was also a moderate negative effect of Ae. japonicus density on Ae. albopictus female size, but this effect was absent in the presence of malathion. These findings indicate that pesticide-mediated alterations in competition and species-specific differences in susceptibility to pesticides could play a role in enhancing invasive potential of Ae. albopictus.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1011-1018
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of medical entomology
Volume47
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2010

Keywords

  • INHS
  • Aedes albopictus
  • pesticides
  • competition
  • Malathion
  • Aedes japonicus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Veterinary
  • Insect Science
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Parasitology

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