Adult mosquito predation and potential impact on the sterile insect technique

The sterile insect technique is a promising environmentally friendly method for mosquito control. This technique involves releasing laboratory-produced sterile males into a target field site, and its effectiveness may be affected by the extent of adult mosquito predation. Sterile males undergo several treatments. Therefore, it is vital to understand which treatments are essential in minimizing risks to predation once released. The present study investigates the predation propensity of four mantis species (Phyllocrania paradoxa, Hymenopus coronatus, Blepharopsis mendica, Deroplatys desiccata) and two gecko species (Phelsuma standingi, P. laticauda) on adult Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus and Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes in a laboratory setting. First, any inherent predation preferences regarding mosquito species and sex were evaluated. Subsequently, the effects of chilling, marking, and irradiation, on predation rates were assessed. The selected predators effectively preyed on all mosquito species regardless of the treatment. Predation propensity varied over days for the same individuals and between predator individuals. Overall, there was no impact of laboratory treatments of sterile males on the relative risk of predation by the test predators, unless purposely exposed to double the required sterilizing irradiation dose. Further investigations on standardized predation trials may lead to additional quality control tools for irradiated mosquitoes.

Automated summary

The sterile insect technique is a promising method for mosquito control, but its effectiveness can be influenced by adult mosquito predation. This study investigates the predation propensity of mantis and gecko species on mosquitoes and evaluates the effects of different treatments on predation rates. The selected predators effectively preyed on all mosquito species regardless of the treatment, and predation propensity varied over time and between individuals. The laboratory treatments of sterile males did not have an impact on the relative risk of predation by the predators, unless exposed to double the required sterilizing irradiation dose.