Mosquito Control

Insect control is at least as old as agriculture. Many different insect control methods have been used and modified throughout the centuries.  The Sumerians sprinkled sulfur compounds on their crops, and poisonous plants were used by other ancient civilizations to keep harmful insects at bay.  During the 15th century chemicals such as lead, arsenic and mercury were applied to crops.

Insect adaptation and the need to maximize food production continue to drive the invention of new methods.  In addition to our crops we also protect our homes from harmful bugs. Insects such as mosquitoes can carry serious diseases, including malaria and dengue fever. Insect nets are made to keep these bugs from entering living spaces and are sometimes treated with insecticide.

Breeding Ground Elimination

Water drainage and trash disposal eliminate breeding grounds for many insects such as mosquito and fly larvae. Wetland drainage is effective for eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, but destroys the eco system for many other species. Garbage provides food and shelter for cockroaches. Underdeveloped sewage systems, especially those in third-world countries, attract insects. Maintaining or upgrading these sewage systems has cut down on many insect infestation problems.

Traps

Traps for insects, such as mosquitoes, cockroaches, flies, and ladybugs, can be purchased at most hardware or gardening stores. Traps typically use chemical attractants, visual lures, or food.

Chemical attractant traps release active components over a series of days or weeks to lure insects into a funnel-shaped entrance or adhesive surface, which traps them.

Advanced mosquito traps can be used in large, outdoor areas. These traps lure mosquitoes by mimicking human presence. A steady stream of CO2, in addition to an attractant, lures mosquitoes to the trap. The mosquitoes are then vacuumed into a net where they dehydrate and die.  These advanced mosquito traps are scientifically proven to disrupt the breeding cycle and can virtually eliminate mosquitoes in your yard all season long.

Visual lures are also used to trap insects. Fly strips work in enclosed areas because house flies enjoy landing on vertical, narrow objects.

Light traps, another visual lure, attract nighttime insects, such as moths and certain beetles like ladybugs. “Bug zappers” are an inefficient light trap because although they attract insects, most fly in the immediate area without ever being electrocuted. Moreover the majority of insects killed by bug zappers are non-biting and harmless. These types of traps have little to no effect on reducing mosquito populations.

Food traps lure insects into a reservoir from which they cannot escape. Fruit flies are trapped by filling a glass with sugar water. Their bodies are so light that once they land in the cup, the water on their wings makes it impossible to escape.

Some things to consider when purchasing traps are the size of the area that needs protection from insects, the type of insect you need to target and the effectiveness of the trap.  You should research the effectiveness of the trap before you buy. The most effective traps have independent testing results to prove they work. This is an unbiased approach to gauging a trap’s effectiveness instead of just trusting a product description. An effective trap should not only kill a large amount of insects, but also reduce the surrounding population.

A Trap for Mosquito Control

Predatory Animals

Certain bats and birds eat vast quantities of insects daily. Ladybugs enjoy eating aphids, and praying mantises feed on a variety of insect pests, such as flies. Gardeners and homeowners attract these predators by building bird and bat houses. Homeowners may purchase beneficial insects to release in their yards or gardens as a form of natural pest control.

Pesticide Chemicals

Agricultural corporations utilize chemicals to kill insects because of effectiveness and low cost. Although efficient, pesticides have come under scrutiny because of their harmful effects on the environment through runoff, and on living creatures when ingested.

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, utilizes multi-faceted insect control tactics. This method, requiring several steps, has gained in popularity after people realized the dangers of most chemical pesticides.

The steps required for IPM -

1.Identification - Detecting the presence of a pest and identifying it to a species. Closely related species may be very similar in appearance, but have significantly different pest potential.

2.Quantification - Sampling to measure population density. How is population density changing with time?

3.Determination - Finding out where the population stands relative to economic injury levels. How much more growth potential is left in the population?

4.Specification - What type of control is warranted? What tools or resources are needed to implement a control operation?

5.Application - Taking whatever steps are necessary to suppress the pest population.

6.Evaluation - Confirm efficacy of control tactics by taking an additional test sample. Re-evaluate the situation and take appropriate actions if needed. (Meyer)

The Future of Insect Control

More advanced methods of insect control are being developed. Genetically altered, flightless mosquitoes are being bred to quell the spread of malaria and other diseases. Lasers are also being developed that kill insect pests with extreme accuracy. Chemicals can be introduced into an area to disrupt breeding. These chemicals release false pheromones, which make it almost impossible for male insects to locate females because of sensory overload.

Works Cited

Meyer, John R. Integrated Control. 3 November 2003. 22 March 2010 .

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