5.6.4 Alternative strategies to manage resistance
Alternative technologies such as non-chemical control methodologies can play an important role in management of insects having medical and veterinary importance or causing significant damage to crops. Alternative technologies and strategies such as physical or structural modifications (use of screens, caulking and sealing cracks or crevices in structures, and air vents to decrease moisture, use of polystyrene beads to reduce potential breeding sites, treatment of bed net, barriers), built-in pest control (use of organic dusts such as silica aerogel and boric acid to eliminate harbourage and breeding sites for insects), extreme cold temperature (use of cold temperatures, liquid nitrogen), heat (using carbon dioxide generated from dry ice or compressed gas cylinders), and anoxia (use of low oxygen atmospheres), may be extremely useful tools in combating the development of insecticide resistance. Toward the best of present knowledge these alternative treatments and technology might kill or mitigate both susceptible and resistant insects (