PHENOLIC-COMPOUNDS OF ALNUS-GLUTINOSA AND CONTROL OF LARVAL POPULATIONS OF CULICIDAE

This work examines the hypothesis that phenolic compounds occur in the regulation of fauna found in Aedes habitats. The litter of these habi tats mainly of Alnus glutinosa leaves which release tannins and other phenolic compounds during decomposition. Bioassays using commercial ta nnins show that Aedes rusticus larvae tolerate these compounds even at high concentrations without major consequences for their survival. In the same conditions, Culex pipiens has a high mortality like Chironom idae, but with a less significant rate. The same results are obtained for Culex pipiens in the presence of maceration products rich in pheno lic compounds that are released by alder leaves during decomposition. The data appear to attribute a selective role to the phenolic compound s produced by the decomposition of organic plant matter, in the coloni zation of habitats by Culicidae larvae.