What methods are used to kill mosquitoes and are they environmentally safe?
There are four basic approaches to controlling mosquitoes: prevention, source reduction, larviciding and adulticiding. Preventing mosquitoes from breeding is the most desirable solution. Unfortunately, many human modifications of the environment such as ditches, retention ponds, and water management structures create mosquito breeding sites. Prevention requires educating planners about how to plan, construct and maintain infrastructure with out producing mosquito breeding habitats. Source reduction is the elimination of water in which mosquitoes lay their eggs and in which the larvae develop. This is the second most effective method for controlling mosquitoes. Methods of source reduction involve eliminating yard containers that hold water and filling wet areas with soil. Some coastal salt marsh areas are impounded, keeping water in the area during the mosquito season. This eliminates areas for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Larviciding is the use of chemicals and mosquitofish to kill th
