Three Anuran Tadpoles from Odisha do not help in mosquito biocontrol

摘要

All the mosquitoes and amphibian species share the aquatic habitat for reproduction, growth and survivalof respective larvae. The amphibian tadpoles and different instars of mosquito larvae interact with eachother in several ways: both negative and positive. The trophic relationship between the tadpoles of threecommon anuran species of Odisha, India (Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Polypedates maculatus andMicrohyla ornata) and various instars of Anopheles vagus larvae was examined. Initial and late feedingstages (varying sizes and feeding abilities) of tadpoles in starved/well-fed conditions were kept for up to48 hours in different bowls containing Anopheles vagus larvae (both tadpoles and mosquito larvae indifferential densities). There was no evidence of active predation of all three species on larvae ofAnopheles vagus. Size, feeding state and density did not evoke any feeding relationship among thelarvae. However, conspecific cannibalism was observed among the tadpoles but not among the mosquitolarvae. The study concludes that these tadpoles cannot function as suitable mosquito biocontrol agents.Larvae of both the groups might be involved in other types of interactions which needs furtherinvestigation.