Biological control of mosquitoes on scrap tires in Brownsville, Texas, USA and Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Autor(es): Uejio, Christopher K.; Hayden, Mary H.; Zielinski-Gutierrez, Emily; Lopez, Jose Luis Robles; Barrera, Roberto; Amador, Manuel; Thompson, Gregory; Waterman, Stephen H.
Resumo: Dengue periodically circulates in southern Texas and neighboring Tamaulipas, Mexico; thus, a closer examination of human and vector ecology at the northern limits of North American transmission may improve prevention activities. Scrap tires produce large mosquito populations and increase the risk of dengue transmission. Some households choose not to pay tire disposal fees, and many tires are illegally dumped in residential areas. Biological control may provide low-cost and environmentally friendly mosquito control. This pilot study evaluated the ability of Mesocyclops longisetus to reduce mosquito populations in existing residential scrap tire piles. Mosquito populations were measured by the number of all mosquito pupae within tires or an adult Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus near piles. Mesocyclops longisetus-treated piles did not significantly reduce total mosquito pupae in Matamoros, Mexico. The study also evaluated the efficacy of native Toxorhynchites moctezuma which preferentially colonized tire piles under vegetation cover in Brownsville, TX. Toxorhynchites moctezuma larvae significantly reduced total mosquito pupae, but the strength of control diminished over time.
Palavras-Chave: Biological control; Human diseases; Pest control; Public health; Dengue; Vegetation; Vectors; Disease transmission
Imprenta: Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, v. 30, n. 2, p. 130-135, 2014.
Descritores: Aedes aegypti - Transmission ; Aedes aegypti - Dengue ; Aedes aegypti - Public health
Data de publicação: 2014