Integrated Vector Management (IVM)
Managing disease-carrying pests (mosquitoes, ticks, flies) using IPM principles with emphasis on public health protection.
Detailed Overview
Vector management focuses on pests transmitting diseases to humans. Primary vectors: (1) Mosquitoes: transmit West Nile virus, Zika, dengue, malaria. (2) Ticks: transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis. (3) Fleas: transmit plague (rare), typhus. (4) Flies: mechanical transmission of bacteria causing food poisoning. (5) Rodents: transmit hantavirus, leptospirosis, plague via fleas. IVM approach combines: (1) Surveillance: monitor vector populations and disease prevalence. Trap mosquitoes testing for virus. Map tick habitats. (2) Source reduction: eliminate mosquito breeding sites (standing water), reduce tick habitat (leaf litter, tall grass), improve sanitation to reduce fly breeding. (3) Biological control: BTI larvicide (bacterial, targets only mosquito/fly larvae), mosquito fish eating larvae. (4) Chemical control: larvicides before emergence (IGRs, BTI), adulticiding when disease risk high (ULV applications), tick perimeter treatments in endemic areas. (5) Personal protection: educate public on repellents, protective clothing, tick checks. Public health collaboration: coordinate with health departments during disease outbreaks. Community programs: public education on eliminating standing water, wearing repellent. Professional role: residential mosquito/tick control programs, commercial fly control in food facilities.
When to Use
Emphasize source reduction in mosquito programs. Use BTI larvicides as foundation. Reserve adulticiding for high disease risk. Implement tick management in Lyme-endemic areas. Coordinate with health authorities during outbreaks.
Required Skill Level
Should only be performed by licensed pest management professionals
Benefits
- Reduces disease transmission protecting public health
- Sustainable approach emphasizing prevention
- Reduces reliance on adulticiding
- Environmentally sound using targeted methods
- Coordinates with public health authorities
Limitations
- Source reduction requires public cooperation
- Mosquito breeding on neighboring properties limits effectiveness
- Disease risk creates pressure for immediate adulticiding
- Climate change expanding vector ranges
Related Concepts
Other principles that may be useful
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
A prevention-based pest management method that provides long-lasting pest control, improves building conditions, and is less harmful to residents and pets than traditional pest control.
Pest Triangle
The four essential requirements pests need to survive: food, water, shelter, and ways to get around. Eliminating any of these makes an environment inhospitable to pests.
Threshold Levels
The point at which pest populations or damage reaches a level that requires action. IPM uses threshold levels to determine when treatment is necessary rather than treating on a schedule.