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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #275043
Title: Behavioral responses of Aedes aegypti to DUETTM and its two components under laboratory conditions

Author
item Clark, Gary
item Golden, Frances
item Allan, Sandra - Sandy
item MCNELLY, JAMES - Clarke Mosquito Control

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/5/2011
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: DUETTM is an insecticide composed of two active ingredients (1% prallethrin and 5% sumithrin) that is applied as an ultra low volume (ULV) spray to kill adult mosquitoes. It has previously been shown to activate Culex quinquefasciatus females in the laboratory resulting in greater mortality. Formulations of DUETTM and its two active components were studied to evaluate behavioral responses in 4-8 day-old bloodfed and non-bloodfed (“unfed”) Aedes aegypti females. Sub-lethal formulations of the two components and DUETTM, and inert ingredients (control) were delivered in a spray cloud of ULV droplets in a wind tunnel and the responses of individual mosquitoes were videotaped. Videotapes were prepared and analyzed during pre-spray, spray and post-spray periods for 80 females using three behavioral analysis programs (e.g., Motus, Ethovision, and Observer) and various behavioral responses (e.g., time to flight, speed of flight, distance flown, duration of flight, and overall flight speed) were measured to determine the impact of the exposure to the different treatments. We found that all three insecticide treatments produced significantly more movement in all groups of females than in the control group. Unfed females moved greater distances when exposed to DUET and sumithrin than when they were exposed to prallethrin alone while bloodfed females traveled about the same distance regardless of insecticide treatment. A similar behavioral pattern was observed for overall flight velocity. No distinct pattern of percent time moving was observed regardless of bloodfed status and insecticide exposure. Comparative results of similar studies with Ae. albopictus will also be presented and implications of these laboratory results for field applications will be discussed.