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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 #309871
Title: Truck-mounted area-wide application of pyriproxyfen targeting Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in northeast Florida

Author
item DOUD, CARL - Us Navy
item HANLEY, ANTHONY - Us Navy
item CHALAIRE, KATELYN - Us Navy
item RICHARDSON, ALEC - Us Navy
item Gibson, Seth
item XUE, RUI-DE - Anastasia Mosquito Control District

Submitted to: Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/9/2014
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are important mosquito vectors of important emerging disease pathogens including dengue virus and chikungunya virus. These mosquito species are very difficult to control because they utilize small cryptic habitat that pervades urban residential areas. This study investigates the potential for a new larval control agent, pyriproxyfen, to reduce populations of these species when applied as a spray from a mosquito control district truck in typical Florida neighborhoods. The study provided evidence that area-wide sprays of pyriproxyfen, when combined with aerial and ground applications of traditional pesticides, could reduce populations of these species.

Technical Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of truck-mounted ULV applications of pyriproxyfen against Aedes aegypti larvae in artificial water containers and wild adult Ae. albopictus populations in an urban setting. The study was conducted over a 3 ½ month period (Jun – Oct 2012), during which three pyriproxyfen applications were conducted. Beginning six weeks prior to the first pyriproxyfen spray, ten BG-Sentinel® traps were used each week to survey the adult Ae. albopictus population at each experimental plot through to the end of the study. The treatment and control plots contained specimen cups, each containing 10 laboratory-reared Ae. aegypti larvae, placed at 8, 15 and 23 m from the spray line. Emergence inhibition (EI) of 82% or greater was observed among Ae. aegypti larvae exposed to the three pyriproxyfen sprays. The EI of these same Ae. aegypti larvae at the three distances from the spray ranged from 84% to 92% and were not significantly different. Laboratory analysis of water samples taken from the larval cups independently confirmed the presence of pyriproxyfen. Similar levels of EI were achieved in Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus larvae when the measured field concentrations of pyriproxyfen were recreated in laboratory assays. Trap captures of wild adult Ae. albopictus were not markedly reduced following the first pyriproxyfen spray, perhaps due to heavy rainfall at the time and the lower rate of pyriproxyfen applied. Within two weeks following Spray 2, however, Ae. albopictus collections from the treatment plot averaged approximately 50% of those from the control plot, and the reduction trend continued following Spray 3.