Chemical-Free Mosquito Control

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Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) are similar to goldfish but are not as tolerant of environmental extremes and cannot survive temperatures lower than 52°F. They are prolific, producing a brood of 60 to 80 offspring every 28 days.

To obtain any of these fish, it's best to check with your state Department of Conservation or local fish farms. Some are also available as bait species or can be obtained from mosquito-control contractors around the country.

BETTING ON BACTERIA

The use of bacteria in biological control has proved quite successful. Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) has been widely effective as a larvicide. It was approved by the EPA in 1981 as effective on some 30 species of mosquitoes. The bacterium does not seem to harm other aquatic life or mammals, but results in a 90% to 100% kill on most types of mosquito larvae. When sprayed over water, it's eaten by larvae. Knockdown activity begins within a few hours, and total kill takes place within 24 hours. Bti will remain active in the water for up to three days; after this, it will die, too. Thus, it doesn't endanger the ecology of the area by persisting and reproducing. However, it's effective only on larvae.

Bti comes under several trade names and is applied either in liquid, granular, or briquette form. The amount applied to a given area varies with the density of vegetation, the number of larvae, and other environmental factors detailed on the product label. Generally, it's most effective when the larvae have just hatched.

In addition to local dealers and contractors, you can contact the following manufacturers for product information:

Biochem Products, P.O. Box 264, 100 Rockland Rd., Montchanin, DE 19710; phone: 302/ 654-0325. Brand name: Bactimos (liquid, granular, and briquette forms).

Abbott Laboratories, Dept. 95-M, 14th St. and Sheridan Rd., North Chicago, IL 60064; phone: 312/937-6100. Brand name: Vectobak (liquid and granular forms).

Bti in briquette, liquid, and granular forms; mosquito fish; and large-scale contracting services are available from Clarke Outdoor Spraying, 159 N. Garden Ave., Roselle, IL 601·72; phone toll-free: outside Illinois, 800/323-5727; Illinois only, 800/942-2555.

For a free copy of the 55-page publication Mosquitoes of Public Health Importance and Their Control (Public Health Service, 1982), write to Centers for Disease Control, Center for Infectious Diseases, Parasite Diseases Division, Atlanta, GA 30033.

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