The FBRC editorial team continues its series on the methods used to combat insects in the regions of Kazakhstan. We asked ourselves whether local authorities practise the principle of biological protection against insects and whether they are prepared to completely abandon the use of insecticidal products.
As reported by the Department of Energy and Housing and Communal Services of the Turkestan Region, comprehensive studies were carried out in 2023 aimed at reducing the number of blood-sucking insects in the region.
Experts concluded that an effective means of combating the larval stage of blood-sucking insects is the bacterial biological product “Bacticid”. It is noted that the product was tested on a model watercourse approximately 5 km long. As a result, about 90% of larvae in the early and middle stages died.
“The water level in the Syr Darya has a major influence on the habitat conditions of the aquatic phases of midges and on their numbers: when the water level is high, most of the egg clutches attached to objects above the water line are activated, and the area of biotopes suitable for the habitat of the aquatic phases of midges increases”, the statement reads.
According to the department, “Bacticid” is applied in the following way: it is released into rivers and water bodies, and after some time a “wall” effect (water flow) with the required concentration of the product forms in the feeding zone of the larvae. By absorbing the product, a significant proportion of insect larvae die on the spot.
The department also notes that in the fight against blood-sucking insects, they are not pursuing the goal of completely destroying the population. Specialists only intend to keep the number of insects at a certain low level in order to create favourable sanitary and epidemiological living conditions for the population.
As for the fight against agricultural pests, the akimat of the Turkestan Region reports that one of the main irrigated crops in the region is cotton, which is affected by such natural pests as the spider mite, cotton bollworm and small mottled willow caterpillar (caradrina).
It is noted that in cotton growing, pest control is carried out using an integrated method. At an early stage of development, other insects — entomophages (lacewings, trichogramma wasps, habrobracon wasps) — are used against them.
However, when a certain threshold of harmfulness is reached, entomophages cannot effectively destroy cotton pests, making it necessary to use a chemical control method (insecticides).
For reference, we previously reported that in Astana, Pavlodar and East Kazakhstan regions, biological products are used to combat the larval form of insects in river floodplains and on water bodies.
And in the regions, they are forced to combat the flying form of insects with chemical products, as local specialists are unaware of any biological products capable of effectively targeting the more adult stages of the pests.
Meanwhile, in the Karaganda region only insecticidal products are used for disinsection work in populated areas.
One of the arguments for why the region is not ready to switch to biological products was their high cost. Local authorities suggest that despite the effectiveness and safety of biological products, it would simply be unprofitable for contracting organisations to purchase them.