Biological control of Mosquito by Cocunut water Bti

NOW THE COCONUT WATER SOLUTION For mosquito control

This discovery is the work of researchers at the Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt in Lima, Peru, led by microbiologist Palmira Ventosilla, and supported by IDRC. They were looking for an alternate incubation medium for Bti.(spore-forming bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis H-14 (Bti H-14)

The efficacy of Bti depends upon the conditions under which it is cultured. Coconut water was found to be a very effective medium for sporulation. Total growth of the bacteria in coconut water in agitated flasks at 37 degree C and in coconuts at room temperature is comparable to that in common culture media. The concentration reached is approximately 1.2 x 109 bacteria per ml, with 6.5% as spores. As a fermentation medium, coconut water was three times more effective than the conventional medium
The method involved is fairly simple. A hole is drilled into the coconut shell, Bti is inserted, and the hole is plugged .This is allowed to ferment for two to three days, while the spores multiply. Then the coconut is broken over a larvae-infected body of water, and the entire contents are thrown in. Two or three coconuts are used, depending on the size of the pond.
In trials Bti filled coconuts killed all mosquito larva and stopped all larval growth for up to 45 days. Field trials show that Bti spores are viable in natural ponds for 21 days, and upto 25 days in warmer areas.
Each house should be given Bti-saturated swabs and cotton plugs. They should ferment the vbacteria in 3 cocunut shells and pour it into the nearest ponds and lakes on the same day..

Contact Reference: Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (Indian Council of Medical Research), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India 4, Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai 625002, Tamil Nadu, India.
http://www.bioline.org.br/request?jb04127


Other methods
1) Water storage tanks represent major breeding sites for Aedes aegypti, the Chickungunya and dengue mosquito.
2) Dengue is transmitted by Ae. aegypti mosquitoes that breed in water containers
3) Fish tilapia were introduced to control mosquitoes which were causing malaria
4) The female mosquito is known to deposit its eggs in relatively clean, stagnant water in outdoor drums, water storage tanks, buckets, laundry tubs, discarded tires drink bottles and cans, cocunut shell, plastics. Removing this would reduce mosquito densities by 40 %
5) Oil can be applied to water, causing the larvae and pupae to suffocate. The extensive use of oil will cause pollution of surface water. But vegetable oils should be harmless to environment in small quantity.
6) Insecticide targeted at the adult mosquitoes can also be applied. One such insecticide used is Malathion. This is a broad-spectrum insecticide used to kill a wide variety of insects. It kills honeybees, butterflies, snails, worms, crustaceans, fish, birds, toads and frogs.
This chemical is toxic. It is an organophosphate compound. Organophosphates were first developed during World War 1 for use as chemical weapons to kill soldiers (gas warfare). But Malathion causes genetic damage to mammalian cells. These mutations can lead to cancer and weakened immune systems.
7) Fogging: application of Malathion by fogging, diesel is used as the dispersal agent (thermal application). The diesel fumes that are produced constitute an environmental hazard. The pollutants in diesel fumes include carbon monoxide, carbon particulates and nitrous oxides.

8) BIOLOGICAL NATURAL CONTROL
The best approach in controlling the Aedes aegypti is biological control.
The bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis kills the larvae of mosquitoes and is applied to water in the form of granules. The major disadvantages in using Bacillus thuringiensis are that it is expensive and its effectiveness in the field is short-lived 30-45 days.
A new low cost method to produce Bacillus thuringiensis has been developed in Peru utilizing coconut water as the fermentation medium.
9) The use of other low-cost, low tech and low toxic methods of mosquito control such as garlic preparations should be tested.
10 ) Pyrethrum and neem are well established commercially as insecticides