Macrocyclops albidus is a larvivorous copepod

Copepod

Copepods are a group of small crustaceans found in the sea and nearly every freshwater habitat. Some species are planktonic , some are benthic , and some continental species may live in limno-terrestrial habitats and other wet terrestrial places, such as swamps, under leaf fall in wet forests,...

 species.

Ecology

It makes its habitat in still fresh waters such as in residential roadside ditches, pools, ponds, and other environments with sufficient food supply.

Macrocyclopsis feed on mosquito

Mosquito

Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...

 larva

Larva

A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...

e. Macrocyclops albidus has proven highly efficient in controlling mosquitoes, reaching close to 90% reduction in larval survival under field conditions and exceeding the recommended predation rates for effective mosquito control in laboratory experiments. In laboratory studies, the common Macrocyclopsis killed an average of 27 first-instar

Instar

An instar is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each molt , until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or assume a new form. Differences between instars can often be seen in altered body proportions, colors, patterns, or...

 Culex quinquefasciatus

Culex quinquefasciatus

Culex quinquefasciatus is the vector oflymphatic filariasis caused by the nematode Wuchereria bancroftiin the tropics and sub tropics.-Primary vector of Lymphatic Filariasis in India:...

larvae/copepod/day.

Macrocyclops albidus is a known intermediate host for the hermaphroditic parasite Schistocephalus solidus

Schistocephalus solidus

Schistocephalus solidus is a tapeworm of fish, fish-eating birds and rodents.This hermaphroditic parasite belongs to the Eucestoda subclass, of class Cestoda. It parasitizes fish and fish-eating water birds. The fish-eating water bird is the definitive host and reproduction occurs in the bird's...

, a tapeworm of fish and fish-eating birds.

Classification

Macrocyclops is a member of Crustacea: Copepoda. The genus Macrocyclops is characterized by a fifth leg of two distinct segments, the distal segment bearing three spines or setae on its terminal end. Macrocyclops albidus is distinguished by the bare medial surface of the caudal rami

Caudal ramus

The caudal ramus is a characteristic feature of primitive crustaceans. Located on the anal somite , the caudal ramus is a pair of appendage-like or spine-like protrusions. Specific structures which are rod or blade-like are referred to as caudal furca....

and the hyaline membrane on the last segment of the antennule, which is smooth or finely serrated.