European rice fields sustainably prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes with biological control, according to CSIC

Oct. 17 () –

The main rice-growing areas of Europe use biological control to sustainably prevent the proliferation of mosquitoesaccording to an analysis of the surveillance and management methods of these animals coordinated by a scientific team from the Higher Scientific Research Council (CSIC).

In this study, published in ‘Journal of Environmental Management’specialists in public health and vector control of 13 institutions from Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Greece. Among the “sustainable” measures applied by the majority of regions studied to prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes, experts have highlighted the use of biological control using ‘Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti)’, a larvicide that combats immature stages of mosquitoes.without harming the environment“.

In fact, they have indicated that in some countries this treatment is routinely applied between April and October in rice production and surrounding areas. Meanwhile, in those where the enormous extension of the cultivation areas prevents it, protection cords 500 meters wide have been established where this biological larvicide is sprayed only around urban areas to protect the population.

The CSIC researcher at the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) Mikel A. González has explained that this strategy is common in the main rice-growing areas of Europe, such as Greece, northern Italy and the Ebro Delta in Spain and has stressed the “urgent” need to apply similar measures in the rice fields of the Lower Guadalquivir “due to the history of circulation of the Nile virus in the area“.

The study has also evaluated who bears the costs of surveillance, management and treatments in Europe and highlighted that strategies vary “significantly” between rice-producing regions. Still, they have recommended a “One Health” approach that includes farmers, vector control operators, public health professionals and the scientific community in the application of sustainable interventions and the development of new strategies. In addition, they have stressed that international cooperation, continuous surveillance and prevention are “essential” given the growing risk of West Nile virus in the European Mediterranean region and the impact of climate change.