Control of Vector Mosquitoes

Students in the Mosquito Biology Project also conduct research to determine the effectiveness of commercial formulations of the microbial insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, against larvae of selected mosquito species.  Assay procedures generally have followed standard practices, with tests conducted against field-collected mosquito larvae in the laboratory and natural populations of mosquito larvae in the field.  Field evaluations are performed in several different mosquito habitats, including roadside ditches, pastures, standing ponds, catch basins, and salt marshes.