Laboratory studies on the feasibility of integrated mosquito control using an insect growth regulator and a mermithid nematode

Laboratory studies showed that the insect growth regulator Altosid 5E, applied at doses ranging from 5 to 50 ppb did not interfere with the preparasitic, parasitic or postparasitic development of Romanomermis culicivorax, a mermithid parasite of mosquitoes. Both Altosid 5E and R. culicivorax were separately effective in controlling pupal and larval populations respectively, of Aedes aegypti. Host mortality was considerably increased when the mermithid and the insect growth regulator were used concurrently against mosquitoes, suggesting a promising future for integrated mosquito control programmes based on the use of mermethids and insect juvenile hormone analogues.[AS].