What are some of the pesticides commonly used in mosquito control programs?
Both chemical and biological measures are employed to kill immature mosquitoes during larval stages. Larvicides target larvae in the breeding habitat before they can mature into adult mosquitoes. Larvicides include the bacterial insecticides Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis and Bacillus sphaericus, the insect growth inhibitor methoprene, and the organophosphate insecticide temephos. Certain mineral oils — applied to form a thin film on the surface of the water — are also used as larvicides.
