Control of Economic Pests and Public Health Disease Vectors

With explosion in human density, climate variability, inadequate waste disposal and human indifference, there is increase in pest and vector populations leading to their population buildup. This is resulting in structural and commodity losses due to pests and infectious diseases like Dengue, Malaria, Leptospirosis, Salmonellosis etc due to vectors. Although Governments are having infrastructure for their management, simple guidelines for their management is presented with special reference to Indian Scenario

In recent past, an increasing number of people have been attracted to move from rural to
urban areas for better employment opportunities due to wider variety of social benefits
and services which do not exist in rural areas. As a result people are migrating towards
the cities and the cities attained rapid growth. These demographic changes coupled with climate
variability lead to poor sanitation and hygiene in these areas. At the same time, improper
waste management measures made rural habitats conducive for the habitation of a variety
of pests and vectors like mosquitoes, rodents, termites, flies, cockroaches, bedbugs, ants
etc. resulting in (i) structural and commodity losses, (ii) Nuisance value and (iii) diseases to
humans due to their vector role. The threat of malaria, dengue, chikungunya and entry of Zika in the country made Government to be vigilant on mosquito control, which is managed by personnel from sanitation or public health units with inadequate knowledge levels. These personnel need training in pest and vector management in local bodies to prevent vector borne diseases. There is no comprehensive extension based publication so far on pest and vector control in human habitations covering public areas, industrial corridors, commercial establishments and residential complexes. In order to fullfil this lacunae, attempt is made to bring this publication with brief on each pest and vector giving simple operation procedures (SOPs). This book brings together the multiple skills and activities required of pest/vector control personnel with a primary emphasis on pest and vector organisms.  This would also facilitate up-skilling the capacity in pest/vector management among extension professionals in local bodies as well as commercial pest management professionals.

The larvicidal properties of invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus L. extract was compared with that of other natural plant extracts; Stevia, Chrysanthemum and Neem extract & oil. The extracts obtained from these respective plants under test were dissolved independently to get 20% stock solutions, which was diluted to lower concentrations with tap water. Various doses (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3%) were tested as per standard dose-response larvicidal bioassays for determining the toxicity in term of LC 50 /LC 90 . The results revealed highest LC 50 value (2.086 to 2.815 %) and LC 90 value (5.836 to 8.533 %) for Stevia extract and the least LC 50 (0.849 to 1.455%) and LC 90 (1.875 to 2.638 %) for Parthenium extract against Aedes albopictus respectively. Parthenium extract proved superior to the other plants extracts against 3 rd and 4 th instars larvae of Ae. albopictus in both the exposure periods. The overall, high values of LC 50 & LC 90 for Stevia extract indicating its low toxicity while the minimum LC 50 & LC 90 values by Parthenium extract exhibit its high toxicity against the 3 rd and 4th instars larvae of Ae. albopictus in both the 24 & 48 hours exposure periods. The five tested plants, in terms of efficiency against 3-4 instars mosquito larvae were ranked as Parthenium > Chrysanthemum > Neem extract > neem oil > Stevia. These results are helpful in exploiting the use of crude extract obtained from invasive weed (Parthenium) in dengue vector control strategies as effective and safe larvicides in the public health program of dengue vector control. This will not only help in control of the deadly disease but will also be utilized in mechanical control of the invasive weed i.e. P. hysterophorus. . 2014. Exploiting the larvicidal properties of Parthenium hysterophorus L. for control of dengue vector, Aedes albopictus. Pak. J. Weed Sci. Res. 20(4): 431-438.