Natural mosquito control encouraged over chemical use
National Chung Hsing University professor Lee Hou-feng advises prioritizing natural mosquito control methods like source reduction and physical barriers over chemical treatments. During a Ministry of Environment news conference, he stressed eliminating water-collecting containers and using tools like mosquito nets or lamps. While chemical controls exist, they pose risks to humans and pets, making safer physical and source control methods more effective and environmentally responsible for preventing mosquito breeding and bites as warmer weather approaches.
National Chung Hsing University entomology professor Lee Hou-feng strongly advocates for natural mosquito control methods, emphasizing source reduction and physical measures over chemical alternatives. Speaking at a Ministry of Environment news conference, Lee highlighted that mosquitoes rely on water for breeding, making the elimination of water accumulation paramount. He advised checking, emptying, scrubbing, and disposing of water-collecting containers to reduce breeding rates, stating this is more critical than merely killing existing insects. Lee detailed physical control options such as mosquito lamps, electric swatters, and bed nets, along with wearing protective clothing outdoors, as safer alternatives to chemicals. He categorized chemical controls into killer, repellent, and protector types. Killer-type measures, including insecticide sprays and coils, require evacuating people and pets due to toxicity. Repellents like electric liquids or coils can be used in ventilated spaces. Protector-type controls, such as anti-mosquito sprays, are applied to the body to disrupt mosquito senses without killing them. The ministry reinforced these recommendations, urging the public to scrub containers to remove mosquito eggs and remove standing water from common pooling areas, reminding them of potential fines for non-compliance under the Waste Disposal Act.
