Mosquito control - WNV- Zika
see also gmo/malaria
It's Time to Show Mosquitoes a Little Love - Here's Why (EcoWest News, 12 April 2022) Interestng article on the ecological role of mosquitoes and the effects , interesting factss and the effects of the mosquito control Bti (natural) and methoprene on wildlife. 'Other approaches are worth investigating in order to maintain mosquitoes as pollinators and important elements in the food chain. Fernand suggests a campaign to get rid of stagnant water as this is where mosquitoes thrive. Dan Peach suggests “targeting specific mosquito species or making the mosquitoes themselves immune to pathogens and thus unable to spread them would protect humans while keeping the ecosystem function of mosquitoes intact”. SNAP Ccomment: During the West NIle virus period, there were education programs for getting rid of stagnant water. It is still a cornersstone of mosquito control even if we are forgetting to talk about it.
Certain Essential Oils Found To Be Highly Effective at Killing Mosquito Larvae and Adults (Beyond Pesticides, March 24, 2022) A range of essential oils can provide high levels of larvicidal and adulticidal activity against Culex pipiens a widespread N.A.mosquito (also commen in SK) that is known to vector West Nile virus and Saint Louis encephalitis, among other diseases. In sum, the researchers note, “Camellia sinensis tea plant and F. vulgare fennel were the most potent larvicides whereas V. odorata sweet violet, T. vulgaris garden thyme, An. Graveolens dill and N. sativa fennel flower were the best adulticides and they could be used for integrated mosquito control… EOs could serve as suitable alternatives to synthetic insecticides because they are relatively safe, available, and biodegradable.”
Disease Carrying Mosquitoes More Prevalent in Neighborhoods of Low Socioeconomic Status (Beyond Pesticides, November 16, 2021) 'Populations of disease-carrying mosquitoes are higher in urban areas of lower socioeconomic status, according to research published this year in the Journal of Urban Ecology. , it is the resulting physical and structural differences between the neighborhoods that are the biggest contributors. The human built environment in lower income areas are more likely to have infrastructure that is poorly maintained, with more litter and stagnant water in the streets due to lack of sanitation services and a functioning drainage system. It was noted that two of the lowest socioeconomic status neighborhoods flooded multiple times during the course of research. All of these factors increase larval mosquito habitat and subsequently the risk of mosquito borne disease. SNAP comment: study done in Puerto Rico.
Non-GMO approach reduces cases of mosquito-borne dengue by 77% (GM Watch, 31 August 2020) 'While uncertain and risky GMO approaches to mosquito-borne diseases continue to raise concerns in the countries targeted for experimentation, like Brazil, Burkina Faso, and most recently the United States, two remarkable breakthroughs have recently been made involving highly effective natural means of preventing the transmission of such diseases. In the most recent instance, a randomized field trial found that mosquitoes infected with a natural bacterium called Wolbachia reduced cases of dengue by an "extraordinary" 77%. Wolbachia stops the insects from transmitting some viruses when they bite people'.
The Way Humans Alter the Environment Increases the Prevalence of Disease Carrying Mosquitoes (Beyond Pesticides, September 16, 2020) Disease carrying mosquitoes are more likely to flourish in areas being altered by human activities, according to new research published by scientists at Oregon State University. Human disturbance was measured by five factors, including (i) pesticide use, (ii) nutrient loading, (iii) human population density, (iv) biomass of grazing animals, and (v) loss of vegetation. While these factors are all well known hazards for wildlife, researchers determined that disease vector mosquitoes are one important exception. Unsurprisingly, each of these impacts are significantly higher, by orders of magnitude, outside the park than inside. It followed that mosquito abundance outside the part is determined to be an average 2.9 times (ranging between 1.5 and 10 times) greater than paired sites of similar layout inside the national park. Sheer numbers are merely half the story. Scientists also observed changes in the relative abundance of certain species of mosquitoes. Disease carrying mosquitoe populations are much higher outside of the park than inside, consistently accounting for roughly 80% of the difference in community composition between paired sites. A sound approach to mosquito management is science-based and prioritizes preventive measures.
Blackberry Leaves Decompose to Thwart Mosquito Breeding (Beyond Pesticides, December 21, 2019) Adding blackberry leaf litter in stormwater catch basins creates an “ecological trap,” enticing mosquito females to lay eggs in sites unsuitable for larvae survival.
WATCH – A Question of consent: Exterminator Mosquitoes in Burkina Faso. (Global Justice Ecology Project, December 20, 2018) 'The (15 minutes - a lot in French with English subtitles) film, “A Question of Consent: Exterminator Mosquitoes in Burkina Faso” documents conversations with residents of the areas where Target Malaria is conducting tests, as well as opposition from civil society groups in the region. This is not the first time Burkina Faso is experimenting with GMOs: Monsanto introduced genetically modified BT cotton into the country in 2008, which led to a drop in the quality of cotton.' SNAP Comment: Large scale fogging with insecticides has been a failure over and over again for mosquito control and the gmo mosquito experiment on Grand Cayman Island was suspended. Detail: Several decades ago the Regina Public Library had a few scientific compendiums of research on the successes and faillures of pesticides in controlling pests. On a world scale study of malaria and other diseases control and with thousands of papers referenced), the efforts had been a failure. After plastering the world with DDT and other long lasting organochlorines and then moving on to other classes of insecticides like carbamates and organophosphates, the only place in the world where these efforts led to a disappearance of mosquitoes was on a tiny island in the Mediterranean. This only occurred for a few years until new mosquitoes found their way in and they were back to square one. What they found instead is that resistance appeared in only a few years and the quantity of insecticide used had to be increased constantly to keep ahead, until they tried a new product and the same thing quickly happened. There is a term for that: the pesticide treadmill. Of course there were no concurrent efforts to identify and manage the mosquito habitat or educate people on mosquito management. These gmo mosquitoes have also been released on Grand Cayman Island and the program is now being suspended with questions on its efficacy. However, now we think we can have better success on a huge continent??? Imagine how many species of mosquitoes there are, and that many species can often be carriers of the same disease and that you would need to bioengineer every species in an attempt to control it. If you only control one another species will likely become dominant and so on. As far as I am concerned, this type of intervention is madness and the money should be redirected. Supposed to be released in California in 2022.
Edmonton's Mosquito Control 2016 This map is based on City of Edmonton logs of the chemicals applied specifically to control mosquitoes in 2016. Click on each data point for details. Each point represents the center of a 1-mile square corresponding to a grid point from city data. The actual application(s) could be anywhere within the surrounding one mile square - this could be up to 1.2 kilometers on a diagonal line. The City does not track applications more precisely than to identify the grid ID. The comments indicate whether the application was Ground or Air. Additional comments are verbatim from City data. The data is presented in layers based on the product used. You can select or de-select layers as you wish to tailor your view. SNAPComment: I believe Edmonton is the last Canadian city to still use the organophosphate chlorpyrifos for mosquito control.Chlorpyrifos has been banned for consumer use because of its toxicity. more on chlorpyrifos
Zika virus-facts and management Facts about the biology of Zika virus and its carrier, the aedes mosquito.Best mosquito repellent is picaridine. Widespread spraying does not work for control but there seems to be good potential in the release of sterile GMO male mosquitoes.Interesting fact: don't use mosquito repellent and sunscreen at the same time.they interfere with each other.
Mosquito Management and Insect-Borne Diseases (Beyond Pesticides) (added 26 August 2016)
West Nile Virus prevention in Saskatchewan The SK government program for financial help to municipalities to control West NIle virus was cancelled in 2011.
Comparing SK Municipalities Larviciding with those who don't 2003 download pdf
Comparing US Cities who spray for West Nile Virus Control with those who don't
West Nile Virus Awareness and Prevention - Saskatchewan Health site While SNAP does not recommend DEET, there is a lot of good advice on this site.
West Nile Virus and Camping This summer protect yourself and loved ones by following these helpful hints.
West Nile Virus and Outdoor Event Planning promotes prevention and states that you are not allowed to for or spray your event site, but must hire a licensed applicator. Notice that areas of public events may be sprayed prior to events.
West Nile Virus and Your Property
West Nile Virus and Tires The role of tires in providing mosquito larval development sites.
Ecologically Sound Mosquito Management in Wetlands, Xerces Society. 2013. An overview of mosquito control practices, the risks, benefits, and nontarget impacts, and recommendations on effective practices that control mosquitoes, reduce pesticide use, and conserve wetlands.
Alternatives for mosquito control (backyard control under NCAP fact sheet, and additional info)