Professional Documents
Culture Documents
E-52-W
moving streams and ditches, particularly if these moving tion of sites should be made, and mosquito larvae should
waters are polluted with organic waste. They also de- be sampled with "mosquito dippers" for species identifi-
velop in any container that holds water, such as tree cation. Sites identified as actively breeding mosquitoes
cavities, rain barrels, fish ponds, house gutters, down- should be noted for follow-up control efforts.
spouts, bird baths, old tires, tin cans, and catch basins. Adult mosquito surveillance measures mosquitoes
Mosquitoes lay eggs on the surface of water or in low populations that have successfully developed and
places where water is likely to accumulate. The eggs may emerged from aquatic habitats. Use of light traps (e.g.,
hatch in fewer than three days or when flooding occurs. New Jersey light trap, CDC light trap) are standard tools
The larvae, commonly called "wiggle-tails," mature in 7 to for adult sampling. Landing counts can also be used.
10 days and change into a pupa or "tumbler" stage. Two For training opportunities in mosquito surveillance
or three days later, adult mosquitoes emerge. After techniques and species identification, contact the
taking a blood meal, each female lays 100 to 200 or more Indiana State Department of Health
eggs. The entire life cycle, depending upon temperature, <msinsko@isdn.state.in.us> for available sessions.
may be completed in as few as 7 to 10 days.
Source Reduction and Habitat Alteration
AREA-WIDE MANAGEMENT Many mosquito problems can be permanently reduced
Mosquito management on an area-wide basis is a by either eliminating breeding places or altering the
complex problem that should be attempted only by pro- habitat in such a way as to reduce the numbers of larvae
fessionals. The administration of community programs that can be supported. This might mean cleaning a
must be flexible. This flexibility should, however, be shoreline of vegetation that provides natural harborage
based upon the established principles of good mosquito for larvae. Eliminating a source of organic pollution will
management. A number of techniques are available, alter a breeding place to not only deprive larvae of
depending upon the target species involved and the nutrients, but also to provide an environment in which
priorities that have been established. For example, the mosquito predators can survive and become estab-
control of species involved as disease vectors can be lished. Under no circumstances should a body of water
quite a different problem from that of species that are be drained or an area filled until permission has been
strictly nuisance biters. obtained from the local drainage board and until it has
definitely been established that problem species breed in
Health Education it in sufficient numbers to cause problems.
All good public health programs must include education The following practices may be used to reduce
of the public for understanding and support. This is mosquito breeding sites.
especially important with mosquitoes, because
homeowners can help greatly by managing their own 1. Ditch and clean stagnant streams to insure a con-
property to eliminate mosquito breeding sources. In tinuous flow of water to eliminate border vegetation
areas where extensive breeding occurs in containers on that produces habitat for mosquito larvae to de-
private property, the effectiveness of any community- velop.
wide effort directed at public property alone will be greatly 2. Drain or fill back-water pools and swamps where
reduced. It is, therefore, of utmost importance to inform stagnant water accumulates. Sanitary landfills can
the citizens of the ways in which they can help. often be used in such locations, resulting in the
elimination of mosquito breeding sites and improv-
Survey for Breeding Places ing the value of the land. Check with the Indiana
An effective community-wide mosquito management State Department of Health, however, before estab-
program cannot be planned or conducted until a survey lishing such landfills.
is made to locate the major breeding places of problem 3. Because all mosquitoes breed in shallow quiet wa-
mosquitoes. This takes a great deal of time and work but ter, remove vegetation and debris from along the
is well worth the effort. Though mosquitoes usually shores of lakes and ponds to discourage mosquito
require standing water for breeding, it is not true that breeding. Such bodies of water should have a steep
mosquitoes will be produced in every body of standing clean shoreline with as little vegetation as possible.
water. A survey will identify those breeding sites that Weed killers may be used in some cases to eliminate
must be eliminated or treated. This will avoid unneces- or prevent emergent plant growth. Refer to Purdue
sary environmental and monetary costs. Because the Extension Publication WS-21 "Aquatic Pest Man-
most efficient management programs concentrate on the agement" <http://www.agcom.purdue.edu/AgCom/
control of mosquito larvae rather than adult mosquitoes, Pubs/WS/WS-21.html> for further information on
the survey is an essential prerequisite. the use of aquatic herbicides.
Any site that accumulates standing water should be 4. Stock small lakes and ponds with top-feeding min-
examined for possible mosquito breeding. Visual inspec- nows if allowable.
3
5. Improve wetlands and marshes to encourage devel- All pesticides must be handled in such a way that any
opment of mosquito predators (e.g., frogs, predatory possibility of harm to nontarget organisms (including
insects, predatory fish). humans), either through contamination of food and water
or by contact, is kept to a minimum. Before using any
CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
The use of chemicals is, at best, a temporary expe- pesticide it is essential to first READ THE LABEL. In
dient that should be limited to only those situations for preparing and applying the pesticide, FOLLOW ALL
which no other alternatives exist. In general, chemical DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY.
control can be divided into two major operations. The
first, larviciding, is the most efficient and effective, and • Wear protective clothing to avoid prolonged or
should be the backbone of any good chemical program. dangerous exposure to pesticides.
The second, adulticiding, is less efficient and as such • Take care to avoid contamination of foods or
should be used strictly for supplemental or emergency drinking water of human and animals.
purposes. The detection of active transmission of mos- • Keep application equipment clean and in good
quito-borne disease is an example of such an emer- condition.
gency. The Indiana State Department of Health routinely • Store pesticides only in their original containers
monitors levels of arborvirus transmission throughout the with the proper label and out of reach of children
state and may be contacted for information on the status and animals.
of disease transmission. • Dispose of empty containers properly, and know
A number of insecticides have been registered for the emergency measures for treating accidental
use in mosquito control. The relative value of chemical poisoning and cleaning up of spills or other
control varies with the mosquito species and the location pesticide contamination.
conditions where control is to be applied. Because each
situation differs, care must be taken to select the proper Many chemical insecticides registered for use in
insecticide for a particular situation. Some of these fac- mosquito control are toxic to birds, fish, and other wildlife,
tors include: so appropriate precautions must be taken. In addition,
most of these insecticides are toxic to bees exposed to
• Effectiveness against target species (resistance prob- direct treatment or to residues on crops. In making
lems); applications, care should be exercised to avoid getting
• Relative toxicity to humans and domestic animals any of these insecticides on food or feed crop areas.
(impact on non-target organisms); Instructions on the label will give precautions or restric-
• Contamination of food, garden, or fruit; tions while using insecticides for mosquito control.
• Cost;
• Availability in quantities needed; LARVAL CONTROL
• Need for residual action in some situations; Mosquito breeding sites that are undesirable or
• Chemical stability; impossible to alter or eliminate may be treated with an
• Flammability; appropriate larvicide. Table 1 lists the insecticides rec-
• Ease of preparation; ommended for use as mosquito larvicides in Indiana. The
• Corrosiveness; and application of larvicides should only be made at sites
• Offensive odor, staining, etc. where mosquito larvae of the proper target species are
present. In addition, the degree of control obtained with
Resistance can be a problem in mosquito control, larvicide applications often depends upon the amount of
especially when using organo-phosphate and pyrethroid pollution and the type and amount of vegetative cover
compounds. However, before assuming that resistance present. Some of the insecticides listed in Table 1 thus
is the cause of poor control, it must be established that have a range of application rates.
poor control is not caused by other factors such as Where cover is heavy, granular formulations fre-
improper identification of mosquitoes, spray techniques, quently provide better control than emulsions or oil sprays.
lack of knowledge about insect habits, or faulty source Repeated treatments with some of these insecticides
reduction procedures. Any decrease in susceptibility may be needed, especially after heavy rainfall. Gener-
should be substantiated in carefully controlled tests be- ally, three or four treatments each season will be needed.
fore seeking another toxicant or considering a change of For proper mixing instructions, application rates, and
procedure. precautions, all label directions should be read and
followed carefully. Application rates may vary depending
PESTICIDE SAFETY MEASURES on the extent of vegetative cover and/or degree of pollu-
The key to the safety of humans and other nontarget tion of the water to be treated.
organisms is knowledge of the hazards involved in han- Granular larvicides can be applied from the air if the
dling and applying pesticides. plane does not have to fly over populated areas. Gran-
4
READ AND FOLLOW ALL LABEL INSTRUCTIONS. THIS INCLUDES DIRECTIONS FOR USE, PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS (HAZARDS
TO HUMANS, DOMESTIC ANIMALS, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES), ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS, RATES OF APPLICATION, NUMBER
OF APPLICATIONS, REENTRY INTERVALS, HARVEST RESTRICTIONS, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL, AND ANY SPECIFIC WARNINGS AND/
OR PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFE HANDLING OF THE PESTICIDE.
Revision 5/2002
It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, David C. Petritz, Director, that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to the programs and facilities
without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, or disability. Purdue University is an Affirmative Action employer.