Culex Control

Larval Control

Environmental management is an ideal method of mosquito control. If a natural disaster highlights pest mosquitoes, long-term environmental management (i.e., filling, draining, stabilization of water, and source reduction) should be considered in the future. Immediate corrective measures, however, are most likely to take the form of a type of chemical control directed towards adults or the larvae.

In addition to the usual chemicals (i.e., organophosphorus, carbamates and chlorinated hydrocarbons) petroleum oils, nonpetroleum monolayers, synthetic pyrethroids and insect growth regulators are available as larvicides. The selection of a larvicide should depend on insecticides, the susceptibility of the target mosquito to the chemical, the effect of the larvicide on nontarget organisms, the type of habitat that is being treated, and the relative costs. To avoid the development of resistance, it is recommended that a different chemical be used for larviciding than that used for adulticiding.

Adult Control

The same general space spraying methods used for the control of Aedes aegypti (i.e., thermal fogging and ultra-low volume aerosol application) can be used for most pest mosquitoes. Aerial applications of pest mosquito insecticides are used effectively for the abatement of mosquitoes in the United States of America. This type of control should probably not be considered for pest mosquitoes, however, unless aircraft used for public health are readily available. Exceptions are in areas with arboviral diseases in which pest mosquitoes have been incriminated as vectors, or in situations in which malaria vectors and pest mosquitoes are both increasing in number.

Individuals should be encouraged to use repellents, to burn pyrethrin coils at night and to sleep under mosquito nets. Small aerosol dispensers can be used in local situations, including refugee camp sleeping areas.