Date of Award

Spring 2023

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Biology; College of Arts & Sciences

First Advisor

Christopher Binckley

Abstract

Invasive species are those non-natives to habitat and that negatively impact the environment or human health problems. Invasive mosquitoes threaten the environment and humans, as they transmit 17% of infectious diseases including malaria, West Nile virus and yellow fever. Aedes japonicas and Aedes albopictus are invasive mosquitoes that often deposit eggs in artificial containers. Chemical pesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI), utilizes endospores to release toxins into the larvae. However, BTI creates negative consequences for the environment and other species. Many plants are being examined to see if they can act as natural pesticides. Duckweeds are native to North America and commonly found in freshwater creeks and rivers. Duckweeds present unfavorable mechanisms for survival. It forms thick mats on the surface of the water, which decreases total sunlight and nutrient available for larvae. This study examined the effect of duckweeds (Spirodela polyrhiza and Lemna minor) on the oviposition and larval survivorship of invasive mosquitoes and the possibility of duckweeds being a natural method of mosquito population control. A total of 16,490 A. japonicas and A. albopictus with significantly more eggs laid in non-duckweed treatments (x̄= 419) versus those with duckweed (x̄= 124). Aedes mosquitoes tend to avoid sites with duckweed as these plants greatly decrease larval survivorship as 75% survivor in the control treatment compared to 10% in duckweed treatment. The presence of S. polyrhiza and L. minor also decreases oviposition and larval survivorship in other species. Duckweeds could act as a natural pesticide to better reduce invasive mosquito populations, and thus improving disease transmission to humans.

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Effects of Duckweed on Mosquito Oviposition and Larval Survivorship

Invasive species are those non-natives to habitat and that negatively impact the environment or human health problems. Invasive mosquitoes threaten the environment and humans, as they transmit 17% of infectious diseases including malaria, West Nile virus and yellow fever. Aedes japonicas and Aedes albopictus are invasive mosquitoes that often deposit eggs in artificial containers. Chemical pesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI), utilizes endospores to release toxins into the larvae. However, BTI creates negative consequences for the environment and other species. Many plants are being examined to see if they can act as natural pesticides. Duckweeds are native to North America and commonly found in freshwater creeks and rivers. Duckweeds present unfavorable mechanisms for survival. It forms thick mats on the surface of the water, which decreases total sunlight and nutrient available for larvae. This study examined the effect of duckweeds (Spirodela polyrhiza and Lemna minor) on the oviposition and larval survivorship of invasive mosquitoes and the possibility of duckweeds being a natural method of mosquito population control. A total of 16,490 A. japonicas and A. albopictus with significantly more eggs laid in non-duckweed treatments (x̄= 419) versus those with duckweed (x̄= 124). Aedes mosquitoes tend to avoid sites with duckweed as these plants greatly decrease larval survivorship as 75% survivor in the control treatment compared to 10% in duckweed treatment. The presence of S. polyrhiza and L. minor also decreases oviposition and larval survivorship in other species. Duckweeds could act as a natural pesticide to better reduce invasive mosquito populations, and thus improving disease transmission to humans.