Resumo

NAVARRO, Edith; BERTI, Jesús  e  GONZALEZ, Julio E. Efficacy of metropeno for the control of Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann (Diptera: Culicidae) in laboratory conditions: effect of larval density. Bol Mal Salud Amb [online]. 2008, vol.48, n.1, pp.45-52. ISSN 1690-4648.

Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann has been considered under natural conditions as the main vector of human malaria in Central America. Metoprene is a synthetic juvenile hormone which is used in the larval mosquito control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of metoprene in relation to the larval density of colonized An. albimanus. A concentration of 0.15 ppm active ingredient of metoprene was evaluated at five larval densities: 20, 40, 80, 100 and 160 larvae/lt. According to the results obtained the increase of the larval density reduced the mortality of pupae and negatively affected the product’s efficacy. Significant differences occurred between treatments (densities) and as the number of larvae increased, the percentage of dead pupae diminished. Increase of pupae survival was observed, especially in the major densities (80, 100 and 160 larvae/lt). The duration of the larva IV instarpupa period was modified (lengthened) due to the larval density and metoprene effects. The statistical analysis revealed a negative relationship between the mosquito larval density and mortality of pupae; while there was a positive relationship between the mosquito larval density and the duration of the larva IV instar-pupa period.

Palavras-chave : Malaria; metoprene; growth inhibitors; Anopheles albimanus; biochemical control; larvae; pupae; vectors.