Perennial emergent macrophytes as the main determinant of Hydrochara affinis inhabitation

Sehyeok Im, Bo Eun Lee, Hwang Goo Lee, Yeon Jae Bae, Jae Geun Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Due to the increasing mosquito activity and the risks associated with them, mosquito control has become a global issue. In particular, biological control using the natural enemies of mosquitoes has attracted great attention. Hydrochara affinis, an aquatic beetle, has recently been identified as a biological control agent for mosquitoes. It is necessary to explore the environmental characteristics of its natural habitats for successful mosquito control. Therefore, we surveyed the environmental characteristics of its natural habitats (dwelling sites, DS), former habitats (former dwelling sites, FDS), and non-habitats located near its natural habitats or with a similar landscape (non-dwelling sites, NDS). Perennial emergent macrophytes accounted for 85.5% of the total plant cover in the DS, while they accounted for 44.2% and 43.0% in FDS and NDS, respectively. The environmental characteristics, such as electrical conductivity and cation concentration of the water, in the 3 categories (DS, FDS, and NDS) were significantly different. The ranges of these values in the DS were wide. Based on these results, we concluded that perennial emergent macrophyte communities can be a determinant for H. affinis habitat selection. It is, therefore, important to maintain a proper environment in which macrophyte communities, that can serve as habitats for H. affinis, can proliferate.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1070-1081
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Asia-Pacific Entomology
Volume22
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019 Dec

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We are grateful for the generous help of Jae Hyun Kim and the DMZ Ecology Research Institute. This study was supported by the Korean Ministry of Environment (MOE) as part of the “Advanced Technology Program for Environmental Industry” ( 2016000210003 ).

Funding Information:
We are grateful for the generous help of Jae Hyun Kim and the DMZ Ecology Research Institute. This study was supported by the Korean Ministry of Environment (MOE) as part of the ?Advanced Technology Program for Environmental Industry? (2016000210003). None.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Korean Society of Applied Entomology

Keywords

  • Aquatic beetle
  • Aquatic habitats
  • Biological mosquito control
  • Habitat characteristics
  • Perennial emergent macrophytes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Insect Science

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