Mosquito and Fly Control
Mosquitoes and flies are insects belong to the order Diptera. Although not all mosquitoes and flies are pests, a number of outbreaks of mosquito or fly borne diseases in the last centuries have imposed disastrous health hazards on human beings. For examples, malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever transmitted by mosquitoes; and cholera, dysentery and typhoid transmitted by flies.
Besides, mosquitoes and flies are named as urban pests because:
- Cause Nuisance
Biting by some mosquitoes and flies often develops itching that would affect people's sleeping and rest. Flies flying around eating-place are also annoying. - Contaminate Food
Some flies such as the house flies, bottle flies and flesh flies often land and feed on surfaces of garbage, animal excreta, etc. They will then contaminate clean food items when they get into kitchens and restaurants, etc. - Contravene Legal Requirements
Mosquito and fly are defined as pests in some legislation. For examples, under some public health legislation, it may be prosecuted for not eliminating mosquito breeding places or infestation with mosquitoes and flies in food premises.
There are more than 70 mosquito species in Hong Kong and the commonly known ones are Aedes albopictus and Culex tritaeniorhynchus. There are also many fly species in Hong Kong and common pest species include house flies, Musca domestica, bottle flies, Chrysomya megacephala, biting midges, Ceratopagonidae and humpbacked flies, Phoridae sp.