Study of the Natural Predators of Aedes Cantans (Meigen) Using the Precipitin Test

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Abstract
Predators of Aedes cantans were studied in 4 localities in southern England using a precipitin test. Antisera were obtained from rabbits immunized by intramuscular injections of saline extracts of A. cantans. Some of the antiserum obtained from the rabbits was made more specific by absorption. Interfacial precipitin tests between the antiserum and the guts of recently fed predators were used to obtain evidence of feeding on A. cantans. The gut contents of 2893 predators were sineared onto filter paper and tested. No egg predators were found. Several larval predators were identified, the most important being larval Dytiscidae, but predation caused little reduction in the size of the population of preadults. However, predaeeous Diptera appeared to be important predators of emerging adults, and Araneae were identified as predators of adults resting on vegetation.

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