Larvicides and larvicidal formulations for the control of Culex pipiens fatigans.

It is generally agreed that no single approach can solve the Culex pipiens fatigans problem at present. The use of larvicides must be integrated and co-ordinated with control techniques utilizing sanitary measures and, in suitable habitats, the use of predacious fish.In the testing of larvicides, factors such as mammalian toxicity and the persistence of toxic residues are important. Organochlorine larvicides persist and accumulate in food-chain organisms, but organophosphorus compounds readily degrade in most plant and animal tissues. In studying these factors a distinction should be made between the laboratory toxicity of a compound and its hazards under field conditions. The development of acquired resistance is a further factor influencing the search for new insecticides.The successful suppression of C. p. fatigans by larvicides will greatly depend on the use of suitable formulations, e.g., solid ones in pit latrines and septic tanks and dense liquid formulations in pukka and kutcha drains. Granular formulations have numerous advantages and their use should be further explored.