Debrecen4U
June 16, 2025
Biological mosquito larva control, and distribution of mosquito larva control tablets in Debrecen
Following the measures outlined in the Green Codex, thanks to the Civaqua programme, the water balance of the Tócó stream has been restored, the number of wetlands has increased, and with the continuation of the Civaqua programme, the water ring surrounding Debrecen continues to expand.
The Municipality of Debrecen is placing mosquito control on a new, environmentally friendly, and scientific basis. This year, it will utilise mosquito control technologies that can be implemented locally from the ground up.
As part of the bird-friendly settlement and bat programme, they have installed swallow hotels and bird and bat boxes in several locations to benefit swallows and bats, which contribute to reducing insect populations. It was undertaken with the involvement of ecologists and nature conservation experts from the Green Working Group, as well as in cooperation with the Future of Debrecen Association, in recent years.
The municipality, placing the prevention of mosquito damage on a scientific basis, is examining mosquito breeding grounds with the help of experts. By doing so, the amount of mosquito larvae in the waters of inhabited areas in the city will be regularly monitored throughout the summer. It will lay the foundation for the implementation of selective, environmentally friendly biological reductions that prevent the development of mosquitoes in the larval stage. The systematic introduction of this method is also in line with the measures of the Green Codex.
According to the latest mosquito larvae survey conducted recently in three areas of the Tócó area, between Main Road 33 and Road 4, it is justified to use a biological product to prevent the development of mosquitoes.
During the treatment, the product is sprayed onto the open water surface.
By preventing the development of larvae, they prevent the laying of eggs and the reproduction of the next generation, thus significantly reducing mosquito damage in surrounding residential areas and the need for chemical mosquito treatments.
On Saturday, 14 June 2025, the municipality carried out mosquito larval reduction by spraying with a biological product in the following areas:
- In the water collection ditch on Köntösgát sor,
- As a continuation of this, in the section along the Kisállomás station of the Tócó Stream, which receives the water,
- On the section of the Tócó Stream along the Fészek residential park and Tócóvölgyi housing estate.
The product only affects the biting mosquito larvae. Mosquito-selective microbiological control uses the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis. During their natural life processes, these microbes produce spores that are consumed by mosquito larvae and die during their digestion. The method’s advantage lies in its high degree of selectivity, which means it is non-harmful to other aquatic organisms and has no effect on terrestrial insects.
The active involvement of the public is also essential in reducing the number of mosquitoes, as they can make a significant contribution to the success of organised control by eliminating breeding sites around the house.
What can you do to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your environment?
- Eliminate water reservoirs in your home that promote mosquito breeding! Mosquito larvae can develop in rainwater stored outdoors, in uncovered water containers, and in various objects, even in a week.
- Turn over and store buckets, cans, wheelbarrows, and children’s toys in the yard so that rainwater cannot collect in them.
- Don’t just refill the drinking water for animals; regularly replace it with fresh water.
- Cover the rainwater collection barrel or cover it with mosquito netting to prevent mosquitoes from laying their eggs in the water.
- Maintain the gutters and drainage ditches to ensure rainwater can drain away effectively.
- Lay out tarpaulins, agricultural sheeting, etc., so that water does not stand on them.
- Do not let water stand in flowerpots for a long time! Fill the cemetery flower vase with small pebbles, gravel, or sand, and then pour water over it.
- Do not store waste scattered outdoors in which water can collect
- Several mosquito species survive the winter by moving the adult mosquitoes into places protected from frost in the fall. Keep the doors and windows of the garage, cellar, shaft, barn, etc., closed during the fall months, or protect them with mosquito nets!
Following the above household recommendations will help prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes.
The municipality is further enhancing protection by distributing free tablets.
Debrecen residents can collect the mosquito-repelling tablets (10 pieces/package) by presenting their ID card and address card during customer reception hours at the Old Town Hall, at the Green Area Department, in office room 208, during the general customer reception hours of the Mayor’s Office (Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
What is worth knowing about mosquito larvae tablets?
Rainwater collected in water collection barrels, under flower pots, or in scattered waste can provide a home for the larvae of some mosquito species.
Mosquito breeding can be expected in containers suitable for collecting rainwater in the garden (e.g., barrels, tubs, cans, buckets, etc.) and in garden pools if water is permanently present in them. In this case, larval development is undisturbed in the stagnant water, and a new generation of mosquitoes can develop every week in the summer heat. By using the product, we can enjoy immunity for 3-4 weeks.
Description of product:
The active ingredient of the product is S-methoprene, which is suitable for inhibiting the development of mosquito larvae and the transformation of pupae into full-grown mosquitoes when introduced into breeding waters. It affects the larvae of several mosquito species (Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Culex pipiens). The tablet slowly and continuously releases its active ingredient under the influence of water, preventing mosquitoes that have hatched in the treated water from developing. The destruction of the majority of individuals occurs in the pupal state. It does not destroy the larvae yet, so during its use, live and moving larvae may still occur in water bodies, which will die in the pupal stage. The product does not affect adult mosquitoes.
Water with tablets must not come into contact with food; therefore, it is not suitable for watering vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens! It may be used to treat water surfaces near the dwelling that are not used for drinking, are not in contact with living water, and are not intended for ornamental fish!
The dosage of the preparation depends on the nature of the water to be treated:
- Clean water: 1 tablet every 300-400 litres every four weeks,
- Polluted water: 1 tablet every four weeks for every 150-200 litres,
- Heavily polluted water: 1 tablet every 4 weeks for every 20-30 litres.
- The municipality is in constant contact with the Disaster Management Authority in the management of mosquito damage.
Since the majority of larval breeding sites are not located in public or municipally owned areas, it is possible that, under certain weather conditions (such as precipitation), biological control alone may not be sufficient from an epidemiological perspective to control the damage caused by adult biting mosquitoes. Therefore, depending on the results of continuous mosquito monitoring, and in justified cases, according to the regulations of the National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy, local, ground-based chemical mosquito control may also be carried out in the future.
Source:debrecen.hu | Photo credit:Pixabay
