Adult mosquitoes are more difficult to control using insecticides.
Two main types of insecticides for mosquitoes are larvicides to control immature mosquitoes and adulticides to control adult mosquitoes. Other mosquito control methods include eliminating breeding sites, sealing cracks in the house and applying mosquito repellents on the skin. Does this Spark an idea?
Larvicide
According to the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture, effective larvicides contain Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) or methoprene. Bti attacks the digestive tract, while methoprene disrupts larvae development.
Adulticides
Effective adulticides contain a pyrethroid such as cyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin or permethrin as the active ingredient. They come in concentrate or ready-to-use forms. Reapply the adulticide periodically to maintain effectiveness.
Comparison
According to the University of Florida, larvicides are more effective than adulticides to control mosquitoes. Use adulticides as a last resort or when mosquito breeding sites are unidentifiable or inaccessible.
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