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Culicine MosquitoesThe genus Culex and its relatives, important carriers of filiarisis. |
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Diseases carried |
Vector organisms |
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Life Cycle and Control |
Mosquito
larvae develop from eggs laid in still water but the eggs can survive drying
for several months. Some require clean water, such as recent rainfall, but
others will survive in water contaminated with organic waste. Free-living
larvae that hatch from the eggs attach themselves to the underside of the
surface can be can be controlled by treating the water. Small areas (puddles,
road ruts) can be emptied or filled in; larger areas can be treated with
oils or detergents to prevent the larvae attaching to the the underside
of the meniscus and insecticidal granules can also be used.
Some species attach their eggs to the underside of water plants living in flowing water. In such cases, denial of habitat is achieved by spraying riverbanks with herbicides. These species are not seen as major vectors for biological weapons. Large areas can be treated by spraying with organophosphate or carbamate insecticides, in the event of large-scale outbreaks aerial spraying may be necessary. |
Suitable oils include:
Suitable insecticides include:
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Other Countermeasures |
The second line of defense is to create barriers to being bitten. This may include the use of mosquito repellents, the screening of openings into buildings. The size of the screen mesh would depend on the vector. Mosquito netting should be hung around beds and the netting may also be impregnated with repellents. |
Suitable repellents include:
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Other comments |
The primary public health concern with culicine mosquitoes is as a vector for the parasitic disease filiariasis. This may be a secondary problem in the event of culicine vectors being used to deliver a biological agent. |
Other genera that may be of concern include:
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