Density‐Dependent Mortality of the Diving Beetle, <i>Rhantus elevatus</i> (Dytiscidae: Coleoptera) Preyed Upon <i>Culex pipiens</i> Larvae: Effects of Prey and Predator Densities

Diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) are general predators that feed primarily on mosquito larvae and can control their populations, but the evidence for such an assumption remains weak. Rhantus elevatus is an important predator of this group distributed in Egypt with both larval and adult stages preying on immature mosquito. For determine predator effectiveness, it is requisite to identify the functional response (a = rate of attack and T_h= time of handling) and searching efficacy (a_t= area of discovery and m = mutual interference) as both correlate with biocontrol efficacy. This study assessed the density-dependent mortality of Culex pipiens larvae by eliciting functional responses of third-instar and adult predators at prey density ranging from 100 to 500 larvae per arena. By contrast, a searching efficacy for the same predator stages was examined at densities ranging from one to five predators per 500 prey. Predation rates of third-instar and adult of R. elevatus were fitted by a model of Type II response with coefficients were: third-instar (a = 0.208 h^-1 and T_h = 2413 h) and adult (a = 0.1191 h^-1 and T_h = 3723 h). The maximum number of mosquitoes which can be devoured by an individual larva and adult of R. elevatus within 24 h was 99.46 and 64.46 prey, respectively. The area of discovery for the larval stage declined more steeply than the adult stage of the predator as their density increased from one to five individuals, indicating more interference estimated for the larval stage. Considering these characteristics, larvae would seem to be the most effective stage against low mosquito populations due to low predation risk compared to that generated at high predator densities in the same arena from intra-specific interference. Eventually, we suggested a ratio of 1:100 (predator per prey) must be considered in biocontrol plans for mosquitoes.