Larvicidal activity and oviposition preference of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) induced by Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae), and an investigation of mosquito abundance drivers in Nu‘uanu Valley, Oahu, Hawai‘i
Larvicidal activity and oviposition preference of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) induced by Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae), and an investigation of mosquito abundance drivers in Nu‘uanu Valley, Oahu, Hawai‘i
Date
2022
Authors
Kirsch, John Mitchell
Contributor
Advisor
Tay, Jia-Wei
Department
Entomology
Instructor
Depositor
Speaker
Researcher
Consultant
Interviewer
Annotator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Volume
Number/Issue
Starting Page
Ending Page
Alternative Title
Abstract
Establishment of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) on the Hawaiian Islands has led to endemic Dengue virus transmission and potential for future arbovirus outbreaks. Current pest management tactics such as larval habitat reduction and chemical pesticides have failed to alleviate the biting pressure of the mosquito, calling for new, 21st century Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies using biological control. A promising mosquito biological control agent is the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin, which allows chemical-free and environmentally safe vector management. The first chapter of this thesis is a mini-review on B. bassiana and its current use on Ae. albopictus. The second chapter is composed of a two-part experiment investigating the mortality of Ae. albopictus larvae exposed B. bassiana using Mycotrol® ESO and an analysis of wild adult oviposition behavior in response to different fungal concentrations. The third chapter explores how various factors influence the abundance of Ae. albopictus in the Nu‘uanu Valley by constructing generalized linear models.
Results of a Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed that larval mortality was concentration dependent with higher concentrations of the fungus causing more rapid and increased mortality. We observed inverse relationships between the concentration of B. bassiana and egg likelihood and egg abundance. Because of differences in site mosquito abundance, we evaluated population drivers including potential larval habitats, abiotic environmental factors, and four urbanization measurements. The results indicated Ae. albopictus are most prevalent in areas containing high densities of small buildings. Elevation and density of potential natural breeding sites were not significant factors contributing to abundance of Ae. albopictus.
In conclusion, we demonstrate larval control using a mycopesticide, a potential change in ovipostional behavior induced by the fungus, and Ae. albopictus are most prevalent around low elevation, single family home residential areas with available breeding habitats. The use of B. bassiana can be integrated with existing integrated vector management strategies to better control vectors and to minimize the spread of insecticide resistance in mosquito populations. Additionally, public health agencies can provide better targeted messaging, outreach, and education, before the next arbovirus outbreak in Hawai‘i.
Description
Keywords
Entomology,
Ecology,
Public health,
biological control,
entomopathogen,
fungus,
public health,
vector
Citation
Extent
80 pages
Format
Geographic Location
Time Period
Related To
Table of Contents
Rights
All UHM dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
Rights Holder
Local Contexts
Collections
Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.