Innovative Approaches to Mosquito Control: A Comprehensive Review on Beneficial Bacteria

Jyoti Dalal

Department of Zoology, Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani, Haryana, India.

Pushaplata Dhanda

Department of Zoology, Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani, Haryana, India.

Meenu Lakhlan

Department of Zoology, Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani, Haryana, India.

Sanjeev Kumar

Department of Biotechnology, Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani (127021), Haryana, India.

Lalita Gupta *

Department of Zoology, Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani, Haryana, India.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Mosquito bites spread many deadly diseases like dengue, chikungunya, zika virus, malaria etc. The spread of these diseases can be controlled by checking the mosquito population. Bacterial control is an effective way to kill mosquitoes without harming non-target organisms. The review discusses the role of bacteria in mosquito control. Several useful bacteria involved in mosquito control such as    E. coli, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Enterococcus that effectively kill the mosquitoes by producing insecticidal proteins such as endotoxins, Bin and Mtx proteins that specifically bind only with targeted mosquito species and kill them. Bacteria belongs to genus Bacillus found most effective against mosquito larvae such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis and Bacillus sphaericus, which produces endotoxins, selectively target mosquito larvae. When these toxins are consumed by larvae, these endotoxins disrupt the cells of midgut of larvae, which kills them before they can develop into adult mosquitoes. This selective and ecologically benign strategy minimizes damage to creatures that are not its intended targets. The environmental safety and specificity of bacterial control methods make them more sustainable and effective as compared to chemical control of mosquitoes population. This approach is more selective and more sustainable since it minimizes the impact on the environment and reduces the likelihood that resistance would develop. In this review we are presenting about the bacterial world and their interactions with mosquitoes, parasites, nematodes etc. and how they prevent disease transmission.

Keywords: Bacterial control, biological control, larvicidal activity, mosquito control


How to Cite

Dalal, Jyoti, Pushaplata Dhanda, Meenu Lakhlan, Sanjeev Kumar, and Lalita Gupta. 2024. “Innovative Approaches to Mosquito Control: A Comprehensive Review on Beneficial Bacteria”. UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 45 (19):354-68. https://doi.org/10.56557/upjoz/2024/v45i194536.