Bacteria active against dipteran larvae (mosquitoes and black flies)
include a wide variety of Bacillus thuringiensis and B. sphaericus
strains, as well as isolates of Brevibacillus laterosporus and
Clostridium bifermentans. All display different spectra and levels of
activity correlated with the nature of the toxins, mainly produced
during the sporulation process. This paper describes the structure and
mode of action of the main mosquitocidal toxins, in relationship with
their potential use in mosquito and/or black fly larvae control.
Investigations with laboratory and field colonies of mosquitoes that
have become highly resistant to the B. sphaericus Bin toxin have shown
that several mechanisms of resistance are involved, some affecting the
toxin/receptor binding step, others unknown