Whilst we are huggified united in our hatred of the obnoxious mosquito, a word of warning about calling on the local authorites to attack them by spraying. This is taken from a e-pamphlet by Biyo-Gökova (a Turkish environmental group):
Normally measures [by local authorities] are taken in the extremely mosquito active months April- October by spraying a mixture of fuel oil and insecticides. Unfortunately, this conventional “mosquito battle” with different chemicals, hasn’t led to satisfying solutions.
Because:
1. It isn’t economical; the “fuel method” is expensive
2. The mosquitoes become immune with time, success is reduced successively
3. The chemical substances are dangerous for people, they cause cancer.
4. The slow decomposition of the chemicals leads to pollution. Even if it has a small effect in fighting mosquitoes, it does kill harmless and useful insects, as well as the natural enemies of the mosquitoes, frogs, lizard etc.
