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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 #378653
Research Project: Integrated Pest Management of Mosquitoes and Biting Flies

Location: Mosquito and Fly Research

Title: Spatial repellents protect small perimeters from riceland mosquitoes in a warm-humid environment

Author
item Gibson, Seth
item DAME, DAVID - Entomological Services
item MEISCH, MAX - University Of Arkansas
item Kline, Daniel - Dan
item WALKER, TODD - East Baton Rouge Parish Mosquito Abatement And Rodent Control
item Allan, Sandra - Sandy
item URBAN, JOYCE - Retired ARS Employee
item Aldridge, Robert
item Linthicum, Kenneth - Ken

Submitted to: Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/14/2021
Publication Date: 4/16/2021
Citation: Britch, S.C., Dame, D.A., Meisch, M.A., Kline, D.L., Walker, T.W., Allan, S.A., Urban, J., Aldridge, R.L., Linthicum, K. 2021. Spatial repellents protect small perimeters from riceland mosquitoes in a warm-humid environment. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 37(1):41–45. https://doi.org/10.2987/20-6974.1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2987/20-6974.1

Interpretive Summary: Recent experiments suggest spatial repellents may significantly reduce biting pressure from host seeking rice land mosquitoes such as Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say in an open field habitat in a warm humid environment. However, little is known regarding efficacy of these formulations in partially enclosed spaces where US military personnel may be sheltered or concealed in an operational environment. In this study we investigated the capability of three spatial repellents – metofluthrin, linalool, and d-cis/trans allethrin –to reduce mosquito incursion into small open-top enclosures of US military camouflage netting. We found that metofluthrin was more effective in partially enclosed spaces compared to the open field, whereas both linalool and d-cis/trans allethrin provided superior protection in the open. These findings support strategic selection of spatial repellents depending on the environment immediately surrounding the host.

Technical Abstract: Recent experiments suggest spatial repellents may significantly reduce biting pressure from host seeking rice land mosquitoes such as Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say in an open field habitat in a warm humid environment. However, little is known regarding efficacy of these formulations in partially enclosed spaces where US military personnel may be sheltered or concealed in an operational environment. In this study we investigated the capability of three spatial repellents – metofluthrin, linalool, and d-cis/trans allethrin –to reduce mosquito incursion into small open-top enclosures of US military camouflage netting. We found that metofluthrin was more effective in partially enclosed spaces compared to the open field, whereas both linalool and d-cis/trans allethrin provided superior protection in the open. These findings support strategic selection of spatial repellents depending on the environment immediately surrounding the host.