Haider Shaker Darwish, a lecturer at the Marine Science Center, participated in a panel discussion entitled “Predatory Aquatic Insects and Their Role in Biological Control,” held at the Faculty of Agriculture/Plant Protection Department.

The panel discussion included a diagnostic and environmental study of predatory aquatic insects of the order Hemiptera and their role in biological control of incomplete mosquito life cycles in some areas of southern Iraq.

It aimed to conduct a field survey of predatory aquatic insects and mosquito species in Basra Governorate, southern Iraq, to determine the predatory efficiency of these insects, and to study the functional response of selected species.

It addressed the most important environmental factors affecting the spread of these insects by measuring certain environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen.

The episode addressed the identification of species that are effective in preying on immature mosquitoes and raised awareness of the importance and role of biological control of mosquitoes to reduce the use of chemical control.

Marine Science Center Media