Mosquito Management

1 Introduction

This article captures the current knowledge base of everything that we know about mosquitoes and their management in the Mahadevapura (in and around Whitefield) zone.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction
2 Summary
3 High Number of Mosquitoes
4 Varathur Lake as a source of breeding ground of mosquitoes
5 Fogging as a method to control mosquitoes have become ineffective
6 Solutions that have been confirmed to work
7 Action History

2 Summary

During April 2017 and April 2019, several residential communities have reported very high number mosquitoes around the Varthur lake area. None of the fogging methods used by the communities provided any relief. Reports of swarms and entry into fully meshed homes were troubling. In the years prior numerous cases of Dengue have occured and hence we were on high alert.

So we formed a group of representatives from different areas in and around Whitefield, compared notes, discussed with entomologists, tried various relief methods and approached the government for resolutions.

Mosquitoes are mostly of the Culex variety (non dengue but not harmless either). They are definitely breeding in extreme numbers at the Hyacinth Covered Varthur Lake. The ideal way to address the situation is as follows.

Address the root cause ie large breeding grounds. Varthur Lake, Drains in the area. Ownesrhip squarely with the government
Address breeding areas in and around your communities or neighborhoods. Even small containers like coconut shells holding water will become a breeding ground for the dreaded Aedes mosquito which prefers fresh water.
Thermal Fogging has been proven completely ineffective. It takes us to “hazardous” levels of air quality while pumping in chemicals. The whole time, it does not provide any material relief to people. See survey below.
Cold Fogging keeps two of the three problems of thermal fogging and is thus ineffective
Certain industrial strength traps have been found to be effective in some areas. Ideal for a community. Key is to find the right “location” for the trap.
Many measures available at a personal level. Detailed below. A combination of them should work out for most people.

Worst affected will be those in the open, on the roads etc with no protection. It is therefore urgent and imperative that the government address this situation asap.

To date, we have done the below in an effort to persuade the govt to resolve this situation

Pressed on the urgency for Varthur Lake Deweeding and aeration with KLDCA, Bangalore Development Minister and the Health dept. Formal complaints submitted
Created awareness via print and social media
Providing solutions beyond what is typical for the govt – ie fog and spray the area to reduce the mosquitoes. These are extremely temporary and cause more harm than benefit.

3 High Number of Mosquitoes

Following images show the heap of mosquitos collected by different communities on a daily basis. Two species of mosquitoes are present.

Culex mosquito species are present in huge numbers:

Dengue causing Aedes Aegypti are also present in smaller numbers:

3.1 Mosquitoes captured by Artic Mosquito Killing System (Outdoor unit)

Large numbers of mosquitoes captured by the Artic Mosquito Killing System

3.2 Mosquitoes killed by using HIT spray

3.3 Mosquitoes killed by previous day fogging

4 Varathur Lake as a source of breeding ground of mosquitoes

Varathur lake is a shallow lake and 50% of it water surface covered with hyacinths.

With a maximum depth of 6 feet and an average depth of 3 feet, Varathur lake is a shallow lake.

Hoodi and Sadaramangala lakes are deeper, have fewer hyacinths, and have reportedly lower number of mosquitoes.

4.1 Mosquito indoor trap units closer to Varathur lake capture 10x more mosquitoes

The number of mosquitoes captured by an equivalent indoor unit near (< 1 Km) Varathur lake is 10 times of what was caught in a house that 5 Km away. The closer indoor unit collected 50 mosquitoes per day, whereas the farther unit collected 50 mosquitoes in one week.

4.2 Mosquito larvae and pupae are present in Varathur lake in large numbers

Mosquito larvae (vertically positioned) and pupae (horizontally positioned) in the lake water.

4.3 Newspaper articles and scholarly articles confirm hyacinths in the lake as a major breeding ground for mosquitoes

5 Fogging as a method to control mosquitoes have become ineffective

5.1 Data from 40 communities show that fogging does not control mosquitoes

The following table shows that fogging as a method to control mosquitoes have become ineffective.

S.No	Community Name	Type	Method	Vendor	Relief	Comments
1	Asset Gardenia	Residential	Fogging		No Relief	Unbelievable number of mosquitoes inside and outside the house
2	Sigma Tech Park Varthur	Office	Fogging		No Relief	Mosquitoes like a wall on the glass entry doors
3	Divyashree Tech Park	Office	Fogging		No Relief	Mosquito menace drastically gone up and evenings all the lifts are filled with mosquito’s
4	Waterville	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
5	Waterwoods	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
6	Skylark Greens	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
7	Vijaysri Elixir	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
8	SLS Square EPIP Zone	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
9	Balaji Prestine	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
10	Adarsh Palm Retreat	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
11	Pride Orchid	Residential	Chemical spray		No Relief
12	DNR Apartments	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
13	Saroj Symphony	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
14	Srimitras Landmark	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
15	GCN white palms	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
16	Sahyadri luxury homes	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
17	Renaissance Jagriti	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
18	Knights bridge apartments	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
19	Hinduja Park	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
20	Trifecta Sollievo	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
21	Gayathri Goodlife Apartment	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
22	Amara Courtyard	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
23	Amrutha Sarovar Belthur	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
24	Srimitras Landmark	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
25	DNA Eden View	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
26	Rosedale	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
27	Shraddha splendor	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
28	Sonestaa Meadows	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
29	Shriram Samruddhi Apartments	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
29	Zonasha Paradiso	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
30	Citilights Rustique	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
31	Charitha Classic	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
32	Sumadhura Anandam	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
33	Prestige Ozone	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
34	Tzed	Residential	Herbal Spray	Osolin	No Relief
35	Laughing Waters	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
36	Shobha Malachite	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
37	Palm Meadows	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
38	Asset Gardenia	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
39	Sumadhura Sawan	Residential	Fogging		No Relief
40	Chaitanya Samarpan	Residential	Outdoor Mosquito Trap	Alpha Moscon	Relief
41	Chaitanya Smaran	Residential	Fogging		No Relief

5.2 Hazardous level air pollution reported due to fogging

Very high levels of Air Quality Index (AQI) has been reported. Learn more about AQI at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_quality_index#United_States

5.3 Harmful chemicals (neurotoxin) like Delatmethirin are used in fogging

Since deltamethrin is a neurotoxin, it temporarily attacks the nervous system of any animal with which it comes into contact. Skin contact can lead to tingling or reddening of the skin local to the application. If taken in through the eyes or mouth, a common symptom is facial paraesthesia, which can feel like many different abnormal sensations, including burning, partial numbness, “pins and needles”, skin crawling, etc. There are no reports indicating that chronic intoxication from pyrethroid insecticides causes motor neuron damage or motor neuron disease.

http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/DeltaGen.pdf

6 Solutions that have been confirmed to work

6.1 Removal of hyacinths from the lake

Newspaper articles and scholarly articles have confirmed that removing hyacinths from the lake and killing the larvae is a very effective method to prevent mosquito breeding.

6.2 Outdoor mosquito traps

Mosquito killing system: http://www.alphamoscon.in/
Mozzzart trap: http://www.dolphinfloats.co.in/mosquito-killing-system.html

6.2.1 CO2 level emitted by these devices are at safe level and is equivalent to two adults breathing

These devices come with carbon dioxide cylinder that releases CO2 mimicking a human. There are concerns about the amount of CO2 emitted and the impact.

The traps (large ones) are estimated to emit CO2 at the approximate hourly rate of 50-60 grams per hour. An average human exhales at the rate of 30-40 grams of CO2 an hour, depending on level of activity etc. An average passenger vehicle emits CO2 at the rate of 400 grams of CO2 per just one mile leave alone the other harmful gas emissions (carbon monoxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide and hazardous air pollutants or toxics) from the tailpipe. CO2 is constantly wafted away in the breeze. If it was so dangerous animals would not survive nights in forests. CO2 is commercially produced and bottled by separating and liquefying it from gases generated from burning fuels in thermal power plants, production of beer, etc. In other words, the CO2 released from mosquito traps is not a net addition to the atmosphere.

6.3 Indoor mosquito traps

Violeds MOSCLEAN UV LED Electric Mosquito: https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B07K2Y479G/

6.4 Mosquito insect screens on doors and windows

Delmen Mosquito Screens: http://www.delmennets.com/
Window Insect Mosquito Mesh Net Screen: https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B07GZSW3P1

6.5 Mosquito bats

Using a fully charged mosquito bat can kill the mosquitoes very effectively. Mosquito bats with low charge only stuns them. You need to crush the mosquitoes to their death. Rechargeable Mosquito Bat: https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B075LHZFP4

6.6 Mosquito nets for beds

Classic Mosquito Net Foldable: https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B014T5Q0XW

7 Action History

S.No	Action	Owner	Action Committed Date	Date/Status
1	Remove hyacinths from the Varathur Lake	Mr. Uday Kumar (Corporator Hagadur Ward)	18-April-2017	May-12-2017/ Hyacinths are being removed from the lake.

1 Introduction

2 Summary

3 High Number of Mosquitoes