Comparison between diflubenzuron and a Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis- and Lysinibacillus sphaericus-based formulation for the control of mosquito larvae in urban catch basins in Switzerland.

Guidi, Valeria and Lüthy, Peter and Tonolla, Mauro (2013) Comparison between diflubenzuron and a Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis- and Lysinibacillus sphaericus-based formulation for the control of mosquito larvae in urban catch basins in Switzerland. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 29 (2). pp. 138-145. ISSN 8756-971X

Text Guidi et al., 2013_JAMCA.pdf Download (183kB)

Abstract

A field test was conducted to evaluate a commercial biolarvicide based on Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis and Lysinibacillus sphaericus to control mosquitoes breeding in catch basins in southern Switzerland. The efficacy and residual activity of the microbial mosquito larvicide applied at the recommended rate of 10 g per catch basin was compared to the currently used larvicide diflubenzuron. Both products provided a very good control activity (> 97% of reduction) of late instars (3rd and 4th instars) and pupae for 4 wk. However, only the microbial formulation controlled immature stages during the whole period of the trial, with > 98% of larval reduction. A single application of the microbial larvicide applied at 10 g per catch basin significantly reduced the number of immature mosquitoes for at least 70 days. The quantity of rainfall in the 48-h period before each sampling and the water temperature did not influence the efficacy of the treatments. Under the environmental conditions encountered in southern Switzerland, the larvicide tested may be a valid alternative to diflubenzuron to control mosquitoes in urban catch basins. The long-lasting control by the microbial larvicide further reduces the number of treatments required to keep the population of mosquitoes at low levels.

Item Type:	Scientific journal article, Newspaper article or Magazine article
Subjects:	Biological Sciences > Microbiology Biological Sciences > Microbiology > Applied microbiology Biological Sciences > Microbiology > Microbiology not elsewhere classified
Depositing User:	Mauro Tonolla
Date Deposited:	18 Jan 2016 08:27
Last Modified:	23 Oct 2017 05:25
URI:	http://repository.supsi.ch/id/eprint/6877

Actions (login required)

View Item