Standing water in Cambodia leading to increased mosquitos and increased incidence of Dengue Fever. Is there a simple technique to apply to surface water to decrease mosquitos? Are neem oil or thyme practical for a local bible school to obtain and/or use?
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Hi from ECHO Asia,
It is reasonably common to use fish as a natural predator for mosquito larva. I did a search of any specific examples in Cambodia, and see a number of projects that used guppy fish as a natural control. If the fish can sustain a population in the pond without feeding or care, then it is a very easy solution.
I attach one research article about the use of guppys’ and a slow release larvicide in Cambodia that may be relevant for you.
There are a wide range of other controls using natural ingredients. The effectiveness of these are outside of our experience so will leave for other people to comment on. Certainly neem trees are relatively easy to grow, and could be planted for self-harvest.
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Hello Karen, Greetings!, Thanks to Shaun for the comment and the research article, of which it’s applicable and helpful. Also on my side, let me give my comment too!.
First, it need to know which kind of mosquitos and their disasters.
Second, it needs to know their habitat, that’s to say; the surrounding is of which kind that support mosquito life and breeding.
Third, How the Area interact with Human settlement.
Fourth, Then we come to the connections and selections that may in some how help according to the case addressed.
It’s possible to disturb mosquito comfort zone of staying on their sites and disturbing their breeding habit, by using different methods; according to how the area of their breeding is.
Methods includes any applicable ones, according to the sites, but not limited to
A) Draining and filling of the area
B) Water management (surfaces films/increasing water circulations/water agitations by moving divices/fountains/bubblers to disturb their comfort zone and their breeding.
C) Applications of control agents, like Larvicides (both biological and chemical ones, among others are BTI-BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS ISRAELENSIS, SPINOSAD etc.
D) Community Education and engagement ensuring limited or scarce of mosquito breeding sites; including environment cleanness, water bodies management that includes preventing wastes disposal on that area to ensure water flow and reduce mosquito breeding; disturbing mosquito comfort zone and breeding by managing their source through applications of various ways, not limited to oiling the surface, etc.
Thanks and stay in touch. Be blessed.
Thank you for your suggestions. I have forwarded them on to the staff on the ground.
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Thanks sana sana, have blessed day.