*Corresponding author Email: ranjinisphd@gmail.com
Three water bugs, Laccotrephes ruber L., Ranatra filiformis F. and Diplonychus rusticus F., are natural biological control agents of mosquito larvae, Culex quinquefasciatus Say. These were evaluated for their predation potential on the fourth instar larvae of C. quiniquefasciatus. Significant difference was observed as regards the predator density and time, and the results indicated that every predator act as natural biological control agent when the density of prey reached 100. Among the three predators selected, L. ruber was the best with maximum efficiency (79.16) followed by D. rusticus (61.50) and R. filiformis (39.16).
Laccotrephes ruber, Ranatra filiformis, Diplonychus rusticus, Culex quinquefasciatus larvae, , predation potential, density, time
