Objective:
Develop sugar-based baits combined with insecticides that can be used with safety to control populations of mosquitoes and phlebotomine sand flies in the Middle East.

Approach:
Studies will be conducted to determine the basic efficacy and residual persistence (in outdoor conditions) of potent insecticides (including neonicotinoids) against several species of phlebotomine sand flies and mosquitoes. Both dry and wet baits consisting of a sugar (glucose) solution and an insecticide (dilution series) will be prepared for feeding assays. For residual efficacy studies, baits will be placed at field locations in Israel and collected at weekly intervals. Sand flies and mosquitoes will be exposed to the test bait for 24 h, and mortality and feeding rates will be determined for dead and surviving insects. The sensitivity of young, unfed adult flies will be also compared with older flies. Data regarding basic efficacies and persistence will enable the U.S. military to select the optimal insecticide(s) for toxic sugar bait methods in accordance with the target vector species and specific environmental conditions, and also help to plan the intervals between residual spray applications or placement of bait stations.