Macroinvertebrate predators and other coexisting macroinvertebrate species interaction with malaria vectors in aquatic habitats of three climatic areas of Burkina Faso

Background: In aquatic larval habitats, Anopheles larvae are subject to the predatory activity of macroinvertebrates. These macroinvertebrates may play a key role in the Anopheles populations bioregulation in aquatic habitats and malaria control. There are few studies characterising macroinvertebrate predators and other macroinvertebrates coexisting with Anopheles larvae in Burkina Faso. This study aimed at characterising and evaluating the different interactions in larval habitats between anopheline mosquito larvae, predatory macroinvertebrates and other co-habitants in the three climatic areas of Burkina Faso. Methods: A larval survey was performed in the three climatic areas (Sahelian, Soudano-Sahelian and Soudanian zones) from September to November 2022. Mosquito larvae and other macroinvertebrates were sampled using standard dippers, preserved in Falcon tubes containing ethanol 80% and transported to the laboratory for morphological identification. Alpha diversity analysis was used to measure macroinvertebrate diversity according to climatic zones and correlation matrix analysis was performed to determine the different interactions between Anopheles and other macroinvertebrates in breeding sites. Results: As results, in larval habitats, Anopheles were found with several aquatic macroinvertebrate predators and other macroinvertebrates cohabiting with Anopheles . The abundance and alpha diversity indices of macroinvertebrate predators and other coexisting macroinvertebrates varied significantly according to climatic zone. Correlation analyses showed that in the Sahelian zone, Anopheles spp., Corixidae and Notonectidae shared the same aquatic habitats. In the Soudano-Sahelian zone, Anopheles spp. occupied the same larval habitats with Belostomatidae, Notonectidae and Achatinidae and the presence of Anopheles in larval habitats was correlated with that of Beatidae in the Soudanian zone. Conclusion: This study showed a trophic association between Anopheles , macroinvertebrate predators and other coexisting macroinvertebrates in larval habitats in Burkina. Our study provides insights and thereby opens new avenues in terms of development of biological control against larvae of Anopheles populations in Burkina Faso.