Do colour and surface area of ovitrap influence the oviposition behaviour of Aedes aegypti, the vector of dengue and DHF?

A newly developed ovitrap made from a fiberglass tray (FGTO) was compared with conventionally used black jar ovitrap (BJO) in field condition in terms of number of eggs received. The number of eggs laid in FGTO was consistently higher than in BJO. The number of eggs collected in FGTO was significantly higher and it was 5-94 times more than that of BJO (t =9.

Population interactions between Culex vishnui mosquitoes and their natural enemies in Pondicherry, India.

Population interactions among mosquitoes in the Culex vishnui subgroup, which are vectors of Japanese Encephalitis, and their natural enemies were studied in Pondicherry, India. We tested the hypothesis that the breakdown of interactions between the larvae and their natural enemies due to drought followed by rain was responsible for the sudden increase in the vector population above the threshold for disease transmission during the heavy rainy period. We randomly sampled mosquito larvae and their predators in different breeding habitats and subjected the mean densities of prey, predator, and mosquito larvae infected with parasites/pathogens to covariate analysis to understand the interaction between prey and their natural enemies in relation to environmental factors.

Utility of expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads in the control of vector-borne diseases.

The use of chemicals or bio-larvicides for the control of Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles stephensi breeding in pit latrines and overhead tanks (OHT) respectively is discouraged owing to many undesirable impacts in the environment. Due to faecal contamination and poor survival, use of predatory fish in OHTs is not feasible. The use of expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads is a potential alternative in these habitats.

Efficacy of insect parasitoid Dirhinus himalayanus (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) & insect growth regulator, triflumuron against house fly, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae).

Background & Objectives: In fly management programme chemicals are extensively used. Combined use of insect growth regulator (IGR) and parasitoids would yield a better reduction in fly density, as exposure of fly larvae to sub lethal dose of IGR enhances pupal duration and thereby increases the exposure time for parasitism. The objective of the present study was to explore the additive effect of both Dirhinus himalayanus, an insect parasitoid and triflumuron, an IGR in controlling house fly, Musca domestica.

Efficacy of two organophosphorus insecticides, Reldan & Dursban against the larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus.

Background & Objectives: The resistance in vectors to conventional insecticides warrants development of newer insecticides for mosquito control besides use of other counter-measures. The present study was undertaken to test the efficacy of a new and toxicologically safe organophosphorus compound, Reldan (chlorpyrifos-methyl) and compare its efficacy with Dursban (chlorphyrifos-ethyl) against larvae of different mosquito vectors under laboratory conditions and against Culex quinquefasciatus in three larval habitats.

Methods: The susceptibility of larvae of mosquito vector species to Reldan and Dursban was determined by following the standard procedure and the LC50 in mg/l values were calculated by probit analysis.