managing mosquitoes in frog habitats
DESCRIPTION
Mosquitoes, as well as frogs, are closely associated with wetlands. They're both natural parts of the Australian ecosystem but mosquitoes can pack a potentially serious punch with regard to both nuisance-biting and mosquito-borne disease. This presentation was prepared for the ‘Habitat requirements and conservation management of protected frogs in Australia' as part of the Wetlands Education and Training Program at Sydney Olympic Park.TRANSCRIPT
Managing mosquitoes in constructed frog ponds
Dr Cameron E. WebbDepartment of Medical Entomology
University of Sydney & Pathology West – ICPMR Westmead
Australia has annual activity of mosquito-borne pathogens
Over 5000 cases of Ross River and Barmah Forest virus infection are reported each year
Photo: Richard Russell (University of Sydney)
Hagman & Shine (2009) Effects of invasive cane toads on Australian mosquitoes: Does the dark cloud have a silver lining? Biological Invasions 9: 445-452.
“…the presence of toad tadpoles significantly reduced the sizes of adult mosquitoes at emergence, and also reduced survival rates of the larvae”
Do amphibians influence mosquito activity?
http://need2fly.wordpress.com
(Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit)
Do mosquitoes snack on frogs?
Copyright © 2012 Peter Cristofono (http://bugguide.net/node/view/689135/bgpage)
Biting midges bite more than humans!
There is a range of frog-feeding midges (Genus:Corethrella)
Constructed Wetlands Stormwater retention & treatment Wildlife conservation Change local mosquito diversity Change in local environmental
drivers of mosquito populations Change in reservoir hosts Wetland design & maintenance
Water quality, depth & flow rates Edge structure and slope Vegetation zones Predators
Well funded management plan
Guidelines for constructed/rehabilitated wetlands
Free to download: http://www.sopa.nsw.gov.au/resource_centre/wet_ebook_workbook_for_managing_urban_wetlands_in_australia
Mosquito control options available
Registered (APVMA) products are suitable
Methoprene (IGR) Bti (culicid larvicide) Do you really need control? Is the “frog habitat” to blame? Consider options and develop
monitoring and treatment decision making process
Is mosquito control the answer?
Could the poison dart frog provide the next generation of mosquito control agents?
Weldon et al. (2006) A common pumiliotoxin from poison frogs exhibits enantioselective toxicity against mosquitoes. PNAS, 103: 17818–17821, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0608646103
Photo: Wikipedia
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/encyclopediabotanica/417045015/
Willems KJ, Webb CE and Russell RC. (2005) Tadpoles of four common Australian frogs are not effective predators of the common pest and vector mosquito Culex annulrostris Skuse. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 21: 492-494.
Should I just add fish to wetland?
Frog/Fish/Mosquito compatible? Plague minnow – no! Native species – maybe yes? Balance likely impact on
mosquitoes with likely impact on tadpoles/frogs
Hurst et al (2006a). Laboratory evaluation of the effect of alternative prey and vegetation on predation of Culex annulirostris immatures by
Australian native fish species. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 22, 412-417
Hurst et al (2006b). Evaluation of Melanotaenia duboulayi (Atheriniformes: Melanotaeniidae), Hypseleotris galii (Perciformes: Eleotridae), and Larvicide Vectolex® WG (Bacillus sphaericus) for integrated control of Culex annulirostris. Journal of the American
Mosquito Control Association, 22, 418-425
Hurst (2010). Melanotaenia duboulayi influence oviposition site selection by Culex annulirostris (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes
notoscriptus (Diptera: Culicidae) but not Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). Environmental Entomology, 39, 545-551.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/owners-dive-in-and-change-backyard-pools-into-ponds/story-fndo28a5-1226419374578
Could the frogs provide the next generation of mosquito repellents?
Williams et al. (2006) Mosquito repellents in frog skin. Biological Letters, 2: 242-245
Photo: Wikipedia
Previous advice from health authorities not reflective of new products and/or formulations
Specific advice on “actives” as well as formulations
Information on repellent safety
Freely available via download
“Beating the Bite”: Guidelines for repellents
http://cameronwebb.wordpress.com/mosquito-repellent-guidelines/
Thank you!
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