Education
Sampling

Towards appliance - the feasibility study

The introdcution of controphic species to new larval moquito populations in temporary ponds, with or without the initial use of a biological insecticide, promises to be a sustainable, relatively easy to handle and low-cost control strategy. Because it can be conducted without a complex equipment it may be especially suitable for capacity building, enabling local communities to participate in mosquito control and rising the acceptance of national control strategies. Pesticide usage is reduced and no foreign species are introduced, so that the environmental risk is minimized.

However, the effectiveness and feasibility of this approach needs to be proofed in a real life situation. At the field station of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology - ICIPE in Mbita, Kenia, the method is tested in different breeding habitats. Mosquito scouts are trained and apply B.t.i. and / or competitors to young ponds after rainfalls and the development of the larvae and the associating community is recorded. Besides, advanced research is done to answer open questions and to increase the effectiveness of the method. In the beginning of 2013, a workshop with international guests will take place to present the results to the stakeholders, exchange knowledge and train people.

Successful outdoor mosquito-control strategies require at least basic ecological knowledge. Thus it is very important to increase local knowledge and additionally to integrate local communities into mosquito control programs. Another crucial obstacle to development is often a shortage of experienced scientists. Therefore, it is fundamental to enhance the capacity for science and education but also to motivate African scientists to stay in or return to their home country. We will offer theoretical and practical training courses for local people and young researchers to support capacity building. In addition there is some exchange of students and researchers between Kenya and Germany.

Eventually, the collaboration for vector control needs to encompass not only local communities and scientists, but also public and private sectors. Hence national health agencies and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) will be involved for the implementation of an efficient and sustainable mosquito-control strategy.
 

Africa

Recent publications

Meyabeme A, Duquesne S, Liess, M. 2010

Influence of competing and predatory invertebrate taxa on larval populations of mosquitoes in temporary ponds of wetland areas in Germany. Journal of Vector Ecology 35 (2): 419-427.

Duquesne S., Kroeger I., Kutyniok M., Liess M. 2011

The Potential of Cladocerans as Controphic Competitors of the Mosquito Culex pipiens. J. Med. Entomol. 48 (3): 554-560.

International Bureau of the BMBF