Apr
9
Methods of Mosquito Control
One way of preventing the spread of diseases such as the West Nile Fever, malaria, etc. is through effective mosquito control methods. There are many different ways that this can be done in the community as well as in the home.
Collective action seems to be the best way that communities as well as the different states will be able to do in order to control the seasonal spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
Targeting its source
One of the most effective methods of controlling mosquito populations is by targeting its source. Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Being able to reduce possible breeding grounds for these mosquitoes can effectively reduce their numbers. Eliminating possible breeding grounds for mosquitoes around the home can help a lot.
It doesn’t matter how small the pool of standing water may be. It should be treated as a possible breeding ground for mosquitoes since there are mosquito species that can breed in small bodies of water.
Places where standing water may collect should be dried, cleaned and emptied. Fishponds should be kept aerated while swimming pools should be properly chlorinated to prevent it from becoming a mosquito breeding ground.
Killing larva
Another way to reduce mosquito numbers is by killing its larva. There are different pesticides available in the market that can be used in bodies of water where mosquitoes are known to breed. These pesticides kill mosquitoes at their larval stage before they transform into adults.
One of the most effective larvicides available is Bacillus thuringiensis, more commonly known as Bt. It is a bacterium that is known to be lethal to mosquito larva but harmless to other creatures. Bt products can be used in ponds or bodies of water where other creatures are known to live.
There are Bt briquettes and dunks that can simply be tossed into such bodies of water and can work for several days in preventing the larva mosquito from becoming into an adult.
Natural Predators
A natural means of controlling mosquito populations is by introducing natural predators of the mosquitoes in the area. One of the effective predators known against mosquitoes is the dragonfly. Pretty harmless creatures to humans, dragonflies become a serious predator to mosquitoes, with a single one able to consume hundreds of adult mosquitoes in a single night.
Sadly dragonfly populations have been decimated by the use of some insecticides that aim to control the mosquitoes. Reintroducing dragonflies may be another option that can be used to control mosquito populations in the community.