A FIELD EVALUATION OF FOUR LARVAL MOSQUITO CONTROL METHODS IN URBAN CATCH BASINS

ABSTRACT Effective control of mosquitoes in rural Midwestern communities that lack organized mosquito control districts would be aided by baseline data on optimal breeding sites, interannual effects of climate on population emergence and abundance, and efficacy of various control options under field conditions. During 19 surveillance weeks in the summer of 2005, we sampled 100 catch basins each week that were distributed among 10 study zones. Catch basins within each study zone were subjected to 1 of 4 different mosquito control methods or were left untreated. Of the 10 study zones, 5 were in high-intensity urban areas and 5 in low-intensity urban areas. During the study period, treatment of urban catch basins with Altosid® XR extended residual briquets resulted in a 69.5% reduction in mosquito larvae numbers. However, the product did not provide sustained treatment for the 120–150 days suggested by the manufacturer. Vectolex®WSP, when applied according to manufacturer's suggestions, resulted in a 73.4% r...