Biological control of Culex (Culex) saltanensis Dyar, (Diptera, Culicidae) through Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis in laboratory and field conditions

Abstract

Culex (Culex) saltanensis Dyar, 1928 can become a problem in urban centers because they reproduce abundantly in ponds organically enriched. It is vector of the Plasmodium spp. and Crithidia ricadoi Sibajev et al. 1993. This research verifies the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis on C. saltanensis in two temperature situations, both in laboratory and field conditions. LC50 for C. saltanensis immatures fourth instar, was 0.154 ppm and the LC95 was 0.248 ppm an average temperature of 25.7ºC. When exposed at a constant temperature of 12±1ºC and a photoperiod of 14L:10D, had its susceptibity decreased in 1.50 times in reation to LC50, when compared to room temperature. B. thuringiensis israelensis is highly efficient in the control of this mosquito in natural environment with a high level of polluants using the concentration of 2 liters/hectare, with applications every 15 days.