Mosquito control is a vital publichealth practice throughout the world and especially in the tropics because mosquitoes spread many diseases, such as malaria and the zika virus mosquito control operations are targeted against three different problems. This mosquito has developed resistance to common insecticides. Ecofriendly larvivorous fish such as the top water minnow or mosquito fish gambusia affinis or the common guppy poecilia reticulate can be effectively used to control the mosquito population. Biocontrol strategies aim to be sustainable and target a range of different mosquito species to reduce the current reliance on insecticidebased mosquito control. Several biological mosquito control techniques that have been used include the direct introduction of parasites, pathogens and predators to target mosquitoes 3. Mosquito control manages the population of mosquitoes to reduce their damage to human.
Jeffries and thomas walker, journalinsects, year2016, volume7. Biological control of mosquitoes using predators has been effective in management strategies kay and nam, 2005. This study attempted to find organisms for the biological control of the mosquito aedes aegypti in costa rica. Predators of mosquito larvae as tools for biological control of mosquitoes. When introduced into a mosquito breeding source, the mosquitofish quickly adapts, multiplies and controls mosquitoes in a. Consequently, many attempts to control the abundance of mosquitoes have been made using various methods. Predatory behaviour of female guppies poecilia reticulata. The limitations of traditional insecticidebased strategies. Mosquito control manages the population of mosquitoes to reduce their damage to human health, economies, and enjoyment. Several biological mosquito control techniques that have been used include the direct introduction of parasites, pathogens and predators to target mosquitoes. The primary biological control we use is the mosquitofish, gambusia affinis.
Effective biocontrol agents include predatory fish that feed on mosquito larvae such as mosquitofish gambusia affinis and some cyprinids carps and. In 1910, malaria in penryn, placer county, resulted in a community organization to control anopheline mosquitoes in an area from newcastle to loomis. However, the precise role that communities can assume in implementing such an intervention has not been fully investigated. Biological control of mosquitoes biological control refers to the introduction or manipulation of organisms to suppress vector 2. However, starting with culex molestus in italy and anopheles sacharovi in greece, mosquitos of economic and public health. It is hoped that inte grated pest management combining chemicals with locally. Copepods of the genera arctodiaptomus, eucylops, mesocyclops, megacyclops, and thermocyclops were collected in several parts of the country and cultured for laboratory evaluations. In the past few years, major advances have been made in the area of biological mosquito control.
Organized control of mosquitoes began in california more than 100 years ago. Biocontrol strategies aim to be sustainable and target a range of different mosquito species to reduce the current reliance on insecticidebased. Certain pesticides and chemicals can significantly and effectively control the population of mosquitoes. Biological control of the mosquito aedes aegypti experiment. While mosquitoes have many natural predators, in general, biological controls strive to achieve a balance between the predator and prey and this balance tends to favor the prey. Biopesticides as effective tools for mosquito control. Past, present, and future giovanni benelli 1, claire l. Biological control of mosquitoes using vertebrates has mostly focused on the role of larvivorous fish that consume the aquatic larval stage of mosquitoes. The horse owners were using three methods of house fly control namely, physical, chemical and biological. Manual the biology and control of mosquitoes in california. Pdf the role of biological control of mosquitoes in integrated. Biological control is defined as the use of living organisms to reduce the target populations of pests. Pushpull strategies that are currently being developed, tested or have been used in practise in the control of insect pests read more.
Biological control initiative harris county precinct 4. This perspective paper explores whether biological control might be able to make a greater contribution to vector control in the future, and highlights some of the. Historically and today, targeting mosquito vectors with, primarily, insecticidebased control strategies have been a key control strategy against major mosquito borne diseases. Biological control strategies for mosquito vectors of arboviruses. Fish predation of mosquito larvae has been recorded in many habitats, from small plastic containers to complex natural ecosystems, including coastal wetland environments.
Various methods have been tried and many more still being developed to eliminate or reduce mosquito populace. Dedicated technicians and scientists, led by anita schiller, research and apply biological controls within precinct 4. However, there are limitations on employing biological agents for mosquito control. Role of mermithid nematodes in biological control of. The goal of this chapter is to use principles of population dynamics to evaluate which ecological settings, which target species, and which natural enemies are likely to foster successful biological control of mosquitoes.
As a followup study we need to submit the roundworm to an acid test to verify its efficacy in urban settings. The agent introduced usually has to be substantial in number for giving desirable effect and it is preferably. They feed primarily at the waters surface, where larvae can be found. Genetic control of mosquitoes luke alphey oxitec limited, oxford ox14 4rx, united kingdom. Mosquitoes may also be a nuisance to humans and animals.
Biological mosquito control is the use of other living organisms to control mosquito populations. Mosquitoes are well known as annoying biting pests and vectors of diseasecausing agents to humans and other animals. Pdf the role of biological control of mosquitoes in. While no explicit sensitivity analysis or model testing of control strategies was performed, this explicit inclusion of current mosquito control practices is valuable and deserves further investigation in models of biological control of mosquitoes. Biological control of mosquitoes and other biting flies by. Most horse owners 97% wanted access to effective biocontrol agents for control of house flies. The model was compared to trap collections over 5 years.
Pdf on jan 1, 1994, l philip lounibos and others published biological control of mosquitoes. The chemicals, however, pollute the entire water of the. Communitybased biological control of malaria mosquitoes. Fish predation of mosquito larvae has been recorded in many habitats, from small plastic containers 41 to complex natural ecosystems, including coastal wetland environments 42. Mosquito control has been a point of focus in scientific communities, especially healthproviding units. Chemical insecticides are the mainstay of contemporary control of human disease vectors. One of the safest and interesting methods in mosquito control is the use of biological agents that eat or destroy the larvae. Predatory behaviour of guppies introduced for biocontrol. The most important biological control of mosquitoes is happening continuously in nature. Mosquitoes characteristics, life cycle and control.
Comparative efficacy of pimephales promelas, fundulus diaphanus, and gambusia affinis and influence of prey density for biological control of culex pipiens molestus larvae matthew w. Pdf an integrated approach for the control of mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit will better enable sustainable control while helping. Biological control agents of mosquito larvae include predatory fish, predatory aquatic invertebrates, and mosquito pathogens. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role. Past, present, and future, authorgiovanni benelli and claire l. The biology of mosquitoes 1lifecycle the mosquito life cycle begins with an adult female laying eggs. Guppies were brought to india in 1908 for the biological control. Aquatic predators such as insects, crustaceans and fish, have been identified as potentially effective biocontrol agents benelli et al. Mosquitoes represent the major arthropod vectors of human disease worldwide transmitting malaria, lymphatic filariasis, and arboviruses such as dengue virus and zika virus. Biological control introduction to mosquito breeding.
The mosquitofish preys on mosquito larvae allowing us to keep mosquito populations under control. Mosquitofish gambusia affinis are ideal control agents for several reasons. Weve shown that a biological control agent a roundworm can kill 85100% of mosquito larvae. Normally the adult mosquito lives for about 23 weeks.
First, some species of mosquitoes are able to survive in water with low levels of dissolved oxygen, but most mosquito predators, including minnows and aquatic insects, need higher levels of dissolved oxygen to survive. Jeffries 2 and thomas walker 2, 1 insect behaviour group, department of agriculture, food and environment, university of pisa, pisa 56124, italy. Biological control alameda county mosquito abatement. Unfortunately, no treatment in the form of vaccines or drugs is available for most of these diseases and vector control is still the main form of prevention. The best known fish are gambusia affinis and lobister reteculatus. As biological control does not cause chemical pollution, it is considered as a better method for mosquito control by many people. Which will compete with the natural fertile male mosquito. Biological control expands the arsenal in the fight against mosquitoborne diseases by using nature against nature and using organisms that prey upon the mosquito. A major advantage of biological control, when it works well, is that a single treatment i. Vector, disease, control vector disease control mosquito anopheles, culex, aedes malaria, yellow fever dengue fever filariasis chemical, personal protection vaccination vector control vector control, drug therapy mosquito culex west nile virus no curative drug treatment available vector control.
It can be an important component of integrated pest management ipm programs there are three basic strategies for. This strategy involves the use of natural predators, parasites and pathogens to kill mosquito larvae. Find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The first organized mosquito control efforts were in the salt marshes of san rafael in 1904. Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests such as insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases using other organisms.
Numerous information sources discuss mosquito biology, mosquito borne diseases, methods of personal protection, and approaches to mosquito control. Biological control includes the use of predators, parasites. Most horse owners 80% stabled their horses at night, some or all of the time. However, the spread of insecticide resistance and the emergence of new disease threats are creating an urgent need for alternative tools. Sustainable integrated mosquito management and public health mosquito control in the united states has evolved from reliance on insecticide application for control of adult mosquitoes adulticide to integrated pest management programs that include surveillance, source reduction, larvicide, and. Different biocontrol agents include fishes, tadpoles, lizards, cannibalistic mosquito species, dragonflies, bugs, mites, copepods, helminthes. The special situation of vector control in tropical coun tries encourages biological control. Targeting the aquatic stages of malaria vectors via larval source management lsm in collaboration with local communities could accelerate progress towards malaria elimination when deployed in addition to existing vector control strategies. Mermithid nematodes have been reported from at least 63 species of mosquitoes from all over the world, but until recently they have received little attention.
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