Methionine as an effective mosquito larvicide in natural water sources

Authors

  • Elise A Richardson UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Dept., University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States,
  • Nicole O Abruzzo UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Dept., University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States,
  • Caitlin E Taylor UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Dept., University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States,
  • Bruce R Stevens Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA,
  • James P Cuda UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Dept., University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States,
  • Emma NI Weeks UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Dept., University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States,

Abstract

Methionine is a naturally occurring amino acid that has demonstrated toxic properties for control of larval mosquitoes in laboratory experiments. Methionine offers many desirable qualities for an effective, biorational pesticide, including its minimal effects on non-target species. Because previous studies regarding this amino acid’s toxicity were laboratory based, the next step is to establish if methionine is likely to have similar effects in natural water bodies before attempting costly field trials. Therefore, the goal of this study was to test the effectiveness of DL-methionine applied to various water sources. Concentration response experiments conducted in glass jars used larval Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) as a model organism. Well, deionized, and pond water were evaluated in the study. In general, increased mortality of Ae. aegypti larvae occurred with increasing concentrations of DL-methionine at 48 h. However, larval DL-methionine LC50 values were not different between water sources. This study has shown that DL-methionine can be added to various water sources as a possible biorational larvicide when applied to natural water sources such as ponds or water-holding containers that often are preferred larval developmental sites for a variety of mosquito disease vectors.

Resumo

La metionina es un aminoácido natural que ha demostrado propiedades tóxicas para el control de larvas de mosquitos en experimentos de laboratorio. La metionina ofrece muchas cualidades deseables para un pesticida eficaz bioracional, incluido sus efectos mínimos en especies no objetivo. Debido a que los estudios previos sobre la toxicidad de este aminoácido se realizaron en laboratorio, el siguiente paso es establecer la probabilidad de que la metionina tenga efectos similares en los cuerpos de agua naturales antes de intentar costosos ensayos de campo. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue probar la efectividad de la DL-metionina aplicada a diversas fuentes de agua. Los experimentos de respuesta a la concentración realizados en frascos de vidrio utilizaron larvas de Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) como organismo modelo. En el estudio se evaluó el agua de pozo, desionizada y de estanque. En general, el aumento de la mortalidad de las larvas de Ae. aegypti se presentaron con concentraciones crecientes de DL-metionina a las 48 h. Sin embargo, los valores de CL50 de DL-metionina de las larvas no fueron diferentes entre las fuentes de agua. Este estudio ha demostrado que se puede agregar DL-metionina a varias fuentes de agua como un posible larvicida bioracional cuando se aplica a fuentes de agua naturales como estanques o recipientes con agua que a menudo son los sitios preferidos de desarrollo larvario para una variedad de mosquitos vectores de enfermedades.

Key Words: Aedes aegypti; larvae; Culicidae; pesticide; biorational; pond; lethal concentration

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Published

2021-01-18

Issue

Vol. 103, No. 4 (December 2020)

Section

Research Papers

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