Study of the insects associated with the floodwater mosquito Ochlerotatus albifasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) and their possible predators in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Insects associated with the floodwater mosquito Ochlerotatus albifasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) were studied from intermittent puddles in temperate Argentina in an attempt to detect the main predators. Forty-one taxa occurred in the puddles from spring to fall. Coleoptera and Diptera were dominant and diverse. Ephemeroptera and Odonata were scarce in numbers and species, and Heteroptera occurred in low numbers of species and high abundance of individuals. The main predators of immature O. albifasciatus were detected on the basis of relative abundance (ISA index), ecological dominant groups, and species association (I'' index). Liodessus sp. and Rhantus signatus signatus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) were the most abundant predators in the puddles and Liodessus sp., Lancetes marginatus ( Dytiscidae) and Psorophora ciliata (Culicidae) were the most frequent. Liodessus sp. and O. albifasciatus were the best associated species in all seasons. Liodessus sp. was indistinctly associated with all larval instars and pupae, while R. signatus signatus, L. marginatus and Psorophora ciliata were more associated with the pupal stage of the mosquito. Desmopachria concolor ( Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), Tropisternus lateralis limbatus and Tropisternus setiger ( Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) were other potential predators inhabiting the puddles, but their relevance was minor.