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The mosquito nuisance in our region is caused mainly by the species Culex pipiens, which is commonly found in urban and agricultural areas. Other species belonging to the genus Ochlerotatus may occasionally cause serious trouble, especially in the districts of El Prat de Llobregat and Begues. Each point is monitored in a weekly basis by the inspectors of the MCS, and treated by the application team when needed. It should not be forgotten that in summer, the life cycle of Culex pipiens can be completed in less than a week. Most of the control activities of the MCS consist in the application of chemical and biological products.
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The suppression of mosquito populations while still in their larval
stage at the breeding sites is environmentally harmless, and is
the most accurate mosquito control strategy. Such actions are not
usually obvious to the general public but give a maximum efficiency.
They require, however, comprehensive geographical knowledge of all
possible breeding sites throughout the area, and continuous inspection.
The basic tool of the MCS is a map on which more than 900 breeding
sites have been plotted and coded. All these are waterpoints of
some kind, temporary or otherwise, urban (flooded cellars, septic
tanks) or rural (ditches, pits, pools, marshes).
