author(s)
Aliya Jabeen, Muhammad Mohsin, Samina Iqbal Naz, Rizwan Ahmed, Imtinan Akram Khan, Saboor Ahmad, Zia Ullah and Hazrat Bilal

abstract

The aim of this 1^st time conducted study in Pakistan was to assess the efficacy of expanded polystyrene beads and diesel oil to control mosquitos’ density. Expanded polystyrene beads and diesel oil was applied in mosquito larvae breeding sites and their effect on adult emergence reduction was evaluated over time. The % reduction in emergence of adult mosquitoes in expanded polystyrene beads treated sites ranged from 88.3% to 100%, whereas in Diesel oil treated sites were varied from 58.4% to 90.2%. So Expanded Polystyrene beads were found more effective and also durable than the diesel oil, whereas diesel oil remains effective for maximum 1 week and have to repeat application afterwards. Breeding sites treated with Expanded Polystyrene beads showed statistically significant (p =< 0.04) reduction in emergence of mosquitoes, whereas no significant reduction calculated in diesel oil applied sites. This analysis also reveals the superiority in effectiveness of expanded polystyrene beads over diesel oil. The use of this intervention as a component of integrated vector management (IVM) coupled with other supportive measures could help to control the menace of vector borne diseases.