Purpose: In southern Iran with a tropical climate, the above and underground cisterns of drinking water are the main habitats for immature stages of mosquitoes. The local people do not agree with using calcium hypochlorite granules in the water cisterns due to the change of water taste. Following the increased worldwide interest in using ultrasound technology for water disinfection, this study was conducted to assess the possible dual effects of ultrasound waves against immature mosquitoes.

Materials and methods: Combinations of four power levels, two frequencies, three temperatures, and eight exposure times were applied to immature Culex pipiens. The exposure chamber of immature mosquitoes was the disposable cups placed inside a sonication bath containing tap water.

Results: The mortality rate of immature mosquitos was 85–91% at 10–25 W, 30 °C and 130 kHz. The most effective ultrasound regimen for causing immature mortality included a fixed frequency of 130 kHz, a temperature of 30 °C, and a power level of 20–25 W. The lowest efficacy was observed in the egg stage. The median lethal time (LT₅₀) and ninety percent lethal time (LT₉₀) of sonication was 5.9 ± 0.6 min and 1.6 ± 0.1 min at 30 °C and a fixed frequency of 130 kHz.

Conclusions: Evidence indicated effective ultrasound irradiation against immature mosquitoes in the water. This study provides a clear scientific basis for larvicidal properties induced by ultrasound emissions at laboratory conditions. The findings could be used for setting the ultrasound devices in the field investigations for achieving desired effectiveness.

目的：在热带气候的伊朗南部，上面和地下的蓄水池是未成熟蚊子的主要栖息地。由于水味的变化，当地人不同意在水箱中使用次氯酸钙颗粒。随着世界范围内对使用超声波技术进行水消毒的兴趣日益浓厚，这项研究旨在评估超声波对未成熟蚊子的可能双重影响。

材料和方法：将四个功率水平，两个频率，三个温度和八个暴露时间的组合应用于未成熟库蚊。未成熟蚊子的暴露室是放置在装有自来水的超声浴中的一次性杯子。

结果： 10-25 W，30°C和130 kHz时，未成熟蚊子的死亡率为85-91％。引起未成熟死亡的最有效的超声治疗方案包括130 kHz固定频率，30°C温度和20–25 W功率水平。在卵期中观察到最低功效。在30°C和130 kHz的固定频率下，超声的中值致死时间（LT ₅₀）和百分之九十的致死时间（LT ₉₀）为5.9±0.6分钟和1.6±0.1分钟。

结论：证据表明，超声波可以有效地杀灭水中的未成熟蚊子。该研究为实验室条件下超声发射引起的幼虫特性提供了明确的科学依据。这些发现可用于在现场调查中设置超声设备，以实现所需的有效性。