The editorial team of FBRK continues its series on the methods used to combat insects in the regions of Kazakhstan. We asked ourselves whether local authorities practice the principle of biological protection against insects and whether they are ready to completely abandon the use of insecticidal agents.
As reported by the Department of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Astana, the first stage of mosquito control takes place at the larval stage, which originates and lives in aquatic environments.
In order not to harm other members of the fauna (fish, frogs, and other aquatic insects), a biologically safe preparation called "Bacticid" is used to control mosquito larvae in water bodies (the large and small lakes Taldykol, Maibalyk, etc.).
Recall that in May we reported that in Astana, in addition to the biological preparation "Bacticid", the preparation "Ultragran" is used for disinsection, which contains the substances "Chlorpyrifos" and "Cypermethrin". You can learn more about the toxic properties of these substances via the link.
At the same time, the department reported that "if biological preparations are developed for imaginal (adult – editor's note) forms of blood-sucking insects, the department is ready to consider their application, provided that the preparations are effective and harmless to the environment".
In this regard, it can be concluded that the capital is not yet able to abandon the use of chemical preparations for controlling the flying forms of insects. Earlier we reported that a similar situation is developing in the Pavlodar and East Kazakhstan regions.
Recall that not so long ago, the founder of FBRK, Kirill Pavlov, visited Pavlodar, where specialists reported that biological preparations are used to control mosquito and midge larvae in river floodplains and water bodies.
However, in the region, the flying form of insects is controlled using the method of barrier treatment, which involves creating an insecticidal barrier on the path of insects from water bodies to populated areas.
At that time, local experts noted that the region is ready to use biological preparations that could effectively target winged pests, but the experts are not aware of the existence of such preparations.
At the same time, it turned out that in the East Kazakhstan region, only the chemical method is used as the main method of insect control, which involves the use of insecticides.
As noted by the Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the East Kazakhstan Region, the regulatory legal acts provide for the use of the biological method, namely, the use of larviphages (larva-eating fish), but using this method for the flying form of insects is, obviously, not possible.
The editorial team of FBRK regularly recommends giving preference to safer preparations when combating insects. It turns out that in some regions, executive bodies seem not to be against abandoning the use of insecticidal agents, but where to find an effective and at the same time safe remedy remains a mystery for now.