Field trials of three concentrations of Laginex as biological larvicide compared to Vectobac-12AS as a biocontrol agent for Culex quinquefasciatus.

Laginex AS Biological Larvicide (Lagenidium giganteum) and Vectobac-12AS (Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis) were compared in plastic pools containing laboratory-reared Culex quinquefasciatus larvae located in a wooded area in Panama City, FL, in August and September 1997. The pools were dipped at 2-day intervals to assess larval control. Sentinel larvae in screen-sided cups were added to all treatment and control pools at 4-day intervals and evaluated for infection at 48 h. Laginex produced larval control up to 20 days as compared to the Vectobac-12AS compound, which required retreatment by the 10th day. The most effective control was attained by the Laginex 25 treatment, which reduced larvae in the pools by 100% for 22 days. Control in the Laginex 15 and Laginex 35 treatments dropped to 90% and 74% at day 13 and day 9, respectively. The numbers of infected larvae remained above 50% as larval control was assessed, but dropped and fluctuated when water temperatures were lowered at the onset of cold weather. Organic pollution did not prove to be a significant factor in the evaluations.