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A Wet Solution to Controlling Mosquitoes
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12, 2004

Innovative mosquito control method developed by Coast Sierra Club member, Dr. Adrian Lawler

OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi, August 20, 2003 (Environment News Service): A familiar suggestion to anyone trying to reduce mosquito populations is to limit standing water, which the pesky insects use for breeding. But one marine biologist/parasitologist says giving mosquitoes water is a better way to control the insects. By providing water for mosquitoes, letting them lay their eggs, and then removing the larvae about every six to 10 days---depending on temperature and species---the numbers of mosquitoes will be decreased, says Dr. Adrian Lawler, the former head of the JL Scott Marine Education Center and Aquarium in Biloxi, Mississippi.

And fewer mosquitoes means fewer people getting mosquito-borne, diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, and West Nile Virus. Lawler explains his idea as similar to the method used to reduce screwworm fly larvae in cattle from the southwestern [and southeastern] United States, where scientists released sterilized male flies and thus made the female flies waste their eggs. His suggestion for mosquitoes is to provide them with prime laying areas, then destroy the larvae.

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in virtually anything that contains water, including hollow trees. Lawler says people should still empty various containers where mosquitoes can lay, unless they are going to eliminate the larvae periodically.

He suggests using pond, stream, or standing water because natural waters already contain mosquito larvae foods such as bacteria, algae, and protozoa. Lawler says add a small amount of organic matter---such as manure, hay, leaves, or seeds---to serve as a food source for bacteria and protozoa---and then let the mosquitoes lay eggs. He recommends removing the larvae from the water, but saving the water to return to the container because it contains a pheromone that tells other mosquitoes that the water is safe to lay in. Lawler says his idea is something humans have done for ages to other animals---attract them to food, water, salt, laying site, or something else they need so they can be easily slaughtered