Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

To achieve effective, long-term mosquito control that respects environmental health, MRCU uses a combination of targeted pest control methods known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). When focused on disease-carrying mosquitoes, this approach is referred to as Integrated Vector Management (IVM). IPM combines multiple strategies into a single, ecologically sensitive program, ensuring balanced and sustainable mosquito control.

MRCU’s mosquito control program follows IPM principles, beginning with comprehensive monitoring through larval and adult surveillance to identify mosquito species and population levels. Guided by this data, MRCU employs the most efficient, environmentally responsible control methods, which include:

  • Water Management & Source Reduction: In areas prone to stagnant water, MRCU initiates programs to remove or reduce breeding sites, helping to prevent mosquito populations from developing.

  • Biological Control: Natural predators, such as mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), are introduced to reduce mosquito larvae in targeted habitats.

  • Targeted Pesticide Application: When other methods are ineffective or impractical, pesticides are applied directly to breeding areas or to manage adult mosquito populations in specific zones.

This integrated approach allows MRCU to achieve a balanced, sustainable level of mosquito control that supports both public health and the surrounding environment.

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Monitoring & Surveillance

Effective mosquito control begins with understanding mosquito populations and their behaviors. Monitoring is essential to assess the species, abundance, and distribution of mosquitoes, as well as the presence of any disease vectors. MRCU employs a variety of surveillance methods to track mosquito activity, such as trapping adult mosquitoes, inspecting water sources for larvae, and conducting surveys to determine areas of high mosquito breeding.

Routine monitoring helps MRCU identify mosquito hotspots, evaluate control measures' effectiveness, and make data-driven decisions to adapt strategies accordingly. This proactive approach ensures that MRCU can target the most problematic species and areas, providing efficient, timely responses to reduce mosquito populations and minimize public health risks.

Chemical Controls

While Integrated Pest Management (IPM) primarily focuses on a combination of environmentally responsible control methods, pesticides still play an important role in mosquito control when other strategies are insufficient. MRCU’s pesticide program is designed to be highly targeted, ensuring that chemicals are used only when necessary and in the most effective manner possible. The use of chemical controls focuses on minimizing the impact on non-target species and the environment.

Pesticides are typically applied to specific mosquito breeding sites or directly to adult mosquito populations when other methods—such as water management, source reduction, or biological control—are not feasible or effective. MRCU ensures that all chemicals used are safe, registered, and applied according to strict guidelines that prioritize public health and ecological balance.

Biological Chemicals

Biological control methods are an essential part of MRCU's integrated mosquito management strategy. Rather than relying solely on chemical treatments, MRCU uses natural predators and other biological agents to target mosquito larvae and reduce populations in a sustainable way.

One of the primary biological control methods used by MRCU is the introduction of mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) into water sources. These fish are highly effective at consuming mosquito larvae and help keep mosquito populations in check, especially in areas where other control measures may not be as feasible.

Additionally, MRCU explores other biological options, such as the use of bacterial larvicides that specifically target mosquito larvae without harming other wildlife or the environment. These natural agents, when strategically applied, provide long-term control with minimal environmental impact.

Physical Controls

Hatch and Strand 

The Hatch and Strand program is a physical control method employed by MRCU to regulate mosquito populations in swamp areas. This technique takes advantage of tidal and rainfall patterns to reduce mosquito larvae hatching and to effectively control their numbers at the start of the season.

During the dry season, swamp mosquitoes lay their eggs just above the waterline. When the tide rises or heavy rains occur, these eggs are flooded, triggering the hatching of large numbers of larvae. To manage this, MRCU uses a system of sluice gates to control the water levels in specific sections of the swamp. By pumping water into these areas during low tides, MRCU ensures that mosquito larvae hatch in a controlled manner.

Once the larvae have hatched, the sluice gates are opened, and the water drains out to sea. This process helps wash away a significant portion of the mosquito larvae, while the remaining larvae are stranded in the mud, where they die.

In addition to the Hatch and Strand program, the canals that surround the swamp serve as a passive means of control. These canals allow tidal variations to flow in and out of the swamp, further reducing the breeding grounds for mosquitoes. They also assist with drainage after heavy rainfall, ensuring that stagnant water does not remain in the area long enough to support mosquito breeding.