A Villa in Corfu, A Holiday and Property Guide.

Sometimes there are mosquitoes and the best solution having lived in Africa for many years is the following: -

1. Slightly before dusk close outside doors and windows. Windows can remain open if the shutters have gauze.
2. Close bedroom doors for added protection if required. Remember light attracts mosquitoes.
3. See 5 below re clothing
4. Last duty before departing for dinner is to spray bedroom and any mosquitoes if visible. They reside mostly on ceilings but some on walls.
5. Most people get bitten while at Restaurants over dinner. Basic protection here is best done by clothing e.g. trousers, socks etc. Second line of defence is a repellent spray on unprotected areas. Some restaurants have repellent candles, one under the table and one on the table are best.
6. On return to residence, enter quickly, close door and only then turn on light.
7. Keep bedroom door closed during the night
8. Personally, I do not use the coils at night, as they tend to smell but use them for drastic action. The electric heating pads with tablets I think are the best during the night. If the bedroom has no mosquitoes and the door and window either protected or closed the pads etc need not be used. Remember repellents just keep mosquitoes away they do not kill them.
The above outlines the strictest regime, but modify it if necessary.
Remember if you are bitten think first “restaurant”.

A Poem on Mosquitoes.

As I lay on my bed, thinking about you, I feel this strong urge to
grab you and squeeze you, because I can’t forget last night.
You came to me unexpectedly during the balmy and calm night, and what
happened in my bed still leaves a tingling sensation in me.
You appeared from nowhere and shamelessly, without any reservations,
you laid on my naked body…you sensed my indifference, so you started
to bite my body without any guilt or humiliation, and you drove me crazy
while you sucked me dry.
Finally I went to sleep.
Today when I woke up, you were gone, I searched for you but to no
avail, only the sheets bore witness to last nights events.
My body still shows your marks, making it harder to forget you.
Tonight I will remain awake waiting for you….you damn mosquito!!.

Control of Mosquitoes

As I said before coming from Africa I know it is possible with a little effort to control mosquitoes. My question is, Here in Ayios Stefanos, why does the local Council not eliminate the mosquitoes?.

The previous council wasted money on decking along the beach, only to pull it up. Installed porta toilets, then took them away, built a lifeguard stand when there was already one, installed showers on the beach when some of the inhabitants do not have water, put street lighting along the ridge for about a kilometer when no person goes there at night. The lights just burning the electricity away, & the list goes on. Is it not possible to do something useful? After all it is not that difficult with a program and education of the inhabitants. Probably to start with those in control need the education first and for their benefit I include below what is needed.

Larviciding Efforts

The most environmentally sound and effective method of mosquito control is a Pest Management program. This program reduces breeding sites, uses biological controls, and, when needed, uses chemical control to maintain mosquito populations at a tolerable level. The program takes into consideration an insect’s ability to become resistant to chemical treatments over a short period of time. With the mosquito’s quick reproduction time and numerous offspring, resistance can become a major problem.

Firstly, source reduction, the elimination of potential and existing breeding sites, is by far the preferred method of control. Any time we can reduce the breeding areas without the use of another control method, we should do so. Stagnant water should be eliminated. Examples of source reduction include good drainage of run-offs ditches and catch basins, and elimination of water holding artificial containers around homes through public education. This includes the Ayios Stefanos stream which must be a major source.

The second choice would be the use of biological control. Biological control is the improvement and utilization of nature’s own mosquito control. Many animals feed on mosquitoes during their larval, pupae, and adult stages. As larvae and pupae, mosquitoes may be eaten by water beetles, dragonfly nymphs, water scorpions, damselfly naiads, giant water bugs, beetle larvae, crayfish, freshwater shrimp, tadpoles, other mosquito larvae, and a large variety of fish. As adults, mosquitoes are eaten in large quantities by dragonflies, frogs, toads, damselflies, lizards, nighthawks, swallows, martins, and various other birds.

The other choice to Biological control can also be achieved by the use of a larvicide material. Upon studies of the mosquito, we know during the larval stage mosquitoes eat algae, plankton, bacteria, and any small detritus in the water. Based on this knowledge, our program utilizes a biological larvicide that targets mosquitoes specifically. This larvicide is made of a bacteria found naturally in the soil called Bacillus thuringensis var. israelensis (Bti). It is mixed with water and sprayed onto the water where the larvae are found. The benefit of this product is that it does not affect other organisms. Bti is ingested by the larvae and a bacterial spore is formed in the mid-gut. Death occurs shortly thereafter. Because Bti must be ingested, it only works during the larval, or feeding, stage. Resistance to this product is nearly nonexistent. Bti can be sprayed using larviciding tankers or by using a helicopter or crop sprayer.

Or, If the use of Bti is not feasible because of mosquito age (in the pupae, non-feeding stage) or regular access to a breeding site is not possible, other larviciding methods can be employed. Larviciding pellets or briquettes containing mosquito growth hormones can be used to alter the development of the mosquitoes by limiting growth in any aquatic stage. The pellets or briquettes slowly release the growth hormones into the water column to provide lasting control. The hormones were developed by studying the lifecycle of the mosquito closely and are selective for mosquitoes. Pellets and briquettes are dispersed by hand. Resistance is possible, therefore, it is not utilized in all situations.

To stop larval and pupae, We also use an oil for larval and pupae control. This oil makes a thin coat on the surface of the water and prevents larvae and pupae from getting the air that they breathe. It degrades quickly in the environment and resistance is nearly nonexistent.

Lastly, Adulticide treatments usually occur after all attempts to control the mosquitoes have been exhausted. It can be dispersed by using either ground or air equipment. Adulticide is not as selective and resistance is common.

Is it impossible to put a few pellets or briquettes up-stream on a regular basis?

For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito

Gavin Mackay