The future of mosquito control: The role of spiders as biological control agents: A review

Abstract

Mosquitoes have tremendous impact on human health as vectors of serious diseases such as malaria. The use of biological control means on mosquitoes has so far shown promising results, although this approach needs more elaborate research. Spiders have a wide insect host range and thus can act as biological control agents of insect pests. The objective of this review was to explore factors, mechanisms and responses of spiders toward mosquitoes so that introduction, augmentation or conservation of spiders in areas where malaria is endemic can be adopted. Reports on mosquito-eating spiders and incidents of spiders acting as biological control agents have been reviewed. A better understanding for the mosquito-predator relationships could lead to satisfactory reduction of mosquito-borne diseases by utilizing them in biological control programs and/or integrated control. Two species of spiders specialised in seeking and destroying mosquitoes, Evarcha culicivora spider from East Africa, Crossopriza lyoni a common inhabitant of homes in the rural villages of Thailand and Paracyrba wanlessi from Malaysia, could contribute to strategies to fight malaria in respective geographical areas