Caffeinated Mosquito Control
Used coffee grounds are effective at destroying the larvae of mosquitoes carrying dengue, yellow fever, West Nile virus, malaria and other diseases.
Biocontrol Beat reports on the promising research of Hermione Bicudo at Universidade Estadual Paulista in Sao Paulo, Brazil:
“Approximately four full soup spoons of used coffee grounds in a 250 mL glass of water killed 100% of aquatic mosquito larvae. This translated into fewer adult mosquitoes (the biting, blood-sucking stage) and less new mosquito egg laying (thus, lower mosquito populations over time).”
Combined with elimination of mosquito breeding sites, used coffee grounds could be useful in integrated pest management programs to slow pesticide resistance and reduce mosquito breeding.
