Question

The following statement is incorrect as stated "Pesticides create pesticide resistance in mosquitoes." Rewrite this sentence so that it is a more accurate statement of what actually occurs when pesticides are used. Why is this concept important to know in trying to control outbreaks of mosquito transmitted diseases such as eastern equine encephalitis (also known as Triple E)?

Answer 1

Mosquitoes usually become resistant to pyrethroids through the mutation of a sodium channel gene that controls the movement of ions across cell membranes. Mutations in a single gene are enough to make mosquitoes almost completely resistant to the level of pyrethroids used in insecticides.