The bio-larvicide var. is effective against , either dissolved in water or delivered through eco-compatible chitosan-based hydrogels.

Mosquito control, which is not always easily accomplished, is further complicated by the spread of invasive species. This is the case of , a mosquito native to East Asia, whose presence has been recorded in several European countries, including Italy. This mosquito found suitable ecological conditions in central Europe in general, and in northern Italy in particular, as shown by the ongoing expansion of its distribution. While basic knowledge on feeding habits of have already been acquired, information on its vectorial competence is scarce. Therefore, active monitoring on the presence of this mosquito, and the pre-planning of future control actions, are of paramount importance. Currently, there are no specific guidelines for controlling this mosquito, both in its native regions and in invaded countries. Here we present the first study on the efficacy of a bioinsecticide based on on larvae, with a comparison with results obtained on the tiger mosquito . Our results proved that this bioinsecticide is effective on , both dissolved in water and incorporated into MosChito raft, a hydrogel-based matrix that has recently been developed for the delivery of insecticides to other mosquito species and suitable for safe and eco-compatible applications.