Biological Control of Mosquitoes and Predators
WouterBiological control of mosquitoes is an environmentally friendly approach that reduces local mosquito populations. It should be integrated with human protection, biodiversity conservation, and other environmental considerations.
Biological control of mosquitoes may be implemented through environmental modification or through the use of predators. Predators can include fish or aquatic insects. They are often targeted to specific mosquito species or habitats.
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are important vectors of disease. They have both been controlled in a variety of habitats worldwide, including pristine aquatic ecosystems. However, insecticide resistance is increasing in natural mosquito populations. This has led to the development of eco-friendly methods for controlling mosquito populations.
Larval fish are important predators that impact mosquito populations through biting and indirect competition. They have been introduced repeatedly to aquatic habitats to control mosquito populations. They are also a natural insecticide. They are estimated to be effective at controlling mosquito populations, but have limited predation capability because of alternative prey sources.
Toxorhynchites splendens larvae suppress Aedes aegypti larvae. Gambusia feeds on mosquito larvae, but does not parasitize them. This species is widely distributed and relatively easy to deliver to target areas.
Bti is a gram-positive spore-forming bacterium that is toxic to mosquito larvae. It is commonly used in the United States to control mosquitoes. It is used in aerial spraying, in tires, in flower pots, and in larger bodies of water.
In the United States, Bti products are available in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Michigan. They are environmentally safe and can be applied in the same way as chemical insecticides.
