Historically and today, targeting mosquito vectors with, primarily, insecticidebased control strategies have been a key control strategy against major mosquito borne diseases. Consequently, many attempts to control the abundance of mosquitoes have been made using various methods. Certain pesticides and chemicals can significantly and effectively control the population of 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. Role of mermithid nematodes in biological control of. The horse owners were using three methods of house fly control namely, physical, chemical and biological. Most horse owners 80% stabled their horses at night, some or all of the time. Several biological mosquito control techniques that have been used include the direct introduction of parasites, pathogens and predators to target mosquitoes. Biological control strategies for mosquito vectors of arboviruses. 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. The special situation of vector control in tropical coun tries encourages biological control. Guppies were brought to india in 1908 for the biological control.
However, there are limitations on employing biological agents for mosquito control. When introduced into a mosquito breeding source, the mosquitofish quickly adapts, multiplies and controls mosquitoes in a. Mosquitoes are well known as annoying biting pests and vectors of diseasecausing agents to humans and other animals. Mosquitofish gambusia affinis are ideal control agents for several reasons. Genetic control of mosquitoes luke alphey oxitec limited, oxford ox14 4rx, united kingdom.
Pdf on jan 1, 1994, l philip lounibos and others published biological control of mosquitoes. However, starting with culex molestus in italy and anopheles sacharovi in greece, mosquitos of economic and public health. Manual the biology and control of mosquitoes in california. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role. The chemicals, however, pollute the entire water of the. The first organized mosquito control efforts were in the salt marshes of san rafael in 1904. People living in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world face an enormous health burden due to mosquito borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and filariasis. As a followup study we need to submit the roundworm to an acid test to verify its efficacy in urban settings. Biological control is defined as the use of living organisms to reduce the target populations of pests. Biocontrol strategies aim to be sustainable and target a range of different mosquito species to reduce the current reliance on insecticidebased. Several species of mosquitoes are known to be important vectors of diseases boisvert, 2007. 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. Communitybased biological control of malaria mosquitoes. Organized control of mosquitoes began in california more than 100 years ago.
Pdf the role of biological control of mosquitoes in. 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. Biological mosquito control is the use of other living organisms to control mosquito populations. It can be an important component of integrated pest management ipm programs there are three basic strategies for. Biological control of the mosquito aedes aegypti experiment. Biological control includes the use of predators, parasites. Past, present, and future giovanni benelli 1, claire l. They feed primarily at the waters surface, where larvae can be found. Biological control of mosquitoes biological control refers to the introduction or manipulation of organisms to suppress vector 2. Biological control of mosquitoes using predators has been effective in management strategies kay and nam, 2005. 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. One of the safest and interesting methods in mosquito control is the use of biological agents that eat or destroy the larvae. Mosquitoes characteristics, life cycle and control.
Biological control agents of mosquito larvae include predatory fish, predatory aquatic invertebrates, and mosquito pathogens. In the past few years, major advances have been made in the area of biological mosquito control. The mosquitofish preys on mosquito larvae allowing us to keep mosquito populations under control. The primary biological control we use is the mosquitofish, gambusia affinis. Pdf an integrated approach for the control of mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit will better enable sustainable control while helping.
Biological control introduction to mosquito breeding. Biological control of mosquitoes using vertebrates has mostly focused on the role of larvivorous fish that consume the aquatic larval stage of mosquitoes. Jeffries 2 and thomas walker 2, 1 insect behaviour group, department of agriculture, food and environment, university of pisa, pisa 56124, italy. Mosquito control manages the population of mosquitoes to reduce their damage to human health, economies, and enjoyment.
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. The world health organization, for instance, has used mosquito fish. Biological control expands the arsenal in the fight against mosquitoborne diseases by using nature against nature and using organisms that prey upon the mosquito. Biological control initiative harris county precinct 4. Different biocontrol agents include fishes, tadpoles, lizards, cannibalistic mosquito species, dragonflies, bugs, mites, copepods, helminthes. Biocontrol strategies aim to be sustainable and target a range of different mosquito species to reduce the current reliance on insecticidebased mosquito control.
Jeffries and thomas walker, journalinsects, year2016, volume7. A major advantage of biological control, when it works well, is that a single treatment i. The best known fish are gambusia affinis and lobister reteculatus. Various methods have been tried and many more still being developed to eliminate or reduce mosquito populace. Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests such as insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases using other organisms. The agent introduced usually has to be substantial in number for giving desirable effect and it is preferably.
Dedicated technicians and scientists, led by anita schiller, research and apply biological controls within precinct 4. 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. As biological control does not cause chemical pollution, it is considered as a better method for mosquito control by many people. Weve shown that a biological control agent a roundworm can kill 85100% of mosquito larvae. Which will compete with the natural fertile male mosquito. 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. Fish predation of mosquito larvae has been recorded in many habitats, from small plastic containers to complex natural ecosystems, including coastal wetland environments. Copepods of the genera arctodiaptomus, eucylops, mesocyclops, megacyclops, and thermocyclops were collected in several parts of the country and cultured for laboratory evaluations. Mosquitoes represent the major arthropod vectors of human disease worldwide transmitting malaria, lymphatic filariasis, and arboviruses such as dengue virus and zika virus. Chemical insecticides are the mainstay of contemporary control of human disease vectors. The most important biological control of mosquitoes is happening continuously in nature. Numerous information sources discuss mosquito biology, mosquito borne diseases, methods of personal protection, and approaches to mosquito control. Pushpull strategies that are currently being developed, tested or have been used in practise in the control of insect pests read more. 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.
This study attempted to find organisms for the biological control of the mosquito aedes aegypti in costa rica. However, the spread of insecticide resistance and the emergence of new disease threats are creating an urgent need for alternative tools. Aquatic predators such as insects, crustaceans and fish, have been identified as potentially effective biocontrol agents benelli et al. This strategy involves the use of natural predators, parasites and pathogens to kill mosquito larvae. The model was compared to trap collections over 5 years. In 1910, malaria in penryn, placer county, resulted in a community organization to control anopheline mosquitoes in an area from newcastle to loomis. 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. Past, present, and future, authorgiovanni benelli and claire l. Pdf the role of biological control of mosquitoes in integrated.
However, the precise role that communities can assume in implementing such an intervention has not been fully investigated. 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. Predatory behaviour of female guppies poecilia reticulata. Mosquito control manages the population of mosquitoes to reduce their damage to human.
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. Normally the adult mosquito lives for about 23 weeks. Predatory behaviour of guppies introduced for biocontrol. Biopesticides as effective tools for mosquito control. Still, many people lack understanding of the biology and public health. Effective biocontrol agents include predatory fish that feed on mosquito larvae such as mosquitofish gambusia affinis and some cyprinids carps and. 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. The biology of mosquitoes 1lifecycle the mosquito life cycle begins with an adult female laying eggs. Predators of mosquito larvae as tools for biological control of mosquitoes. Most horse owners 97% wanted access to effective biocontrol agents for control of house flies. This mosquito has developed resistance to common insecticides. Find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Biological control of mosquitoes and other biting flies by.
Biological control alameda county mosquito abatement. 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. Mosquito control has been a point of focus in scientific communities, especially healthproviding units. It is hoped that inte grated pest management combining chemicals with locally. Mosquitoes may also be a nuisance to humans and animals. Several biological mosquito control techniques that have been used include the direct introduction of parasites, pathogens and predators to target mosquitoes 3. The limitations of traditional insecticidebased strategies.