Effectiveness of ultra-low volume nighttime applications of an adulticide against diurnal Aedes albopictus, a critical vector of dengue and chikungunya viruses

PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e49181. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049181. Epub 2012 Nov 8.

Abstract

Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, continues expanding its geographic range and involvement in mosquito-borne diseases such as chikungunya and dengue. Vector control programs rarely attempt to suppress this diurnal species with an ultra-low volume (ULV) adulticide because for maximum efficacy applications are conducted at night. During 2009-2011 we performed experimental nighttime applications of a novel adulticide (DUET®) against field populations of Ae. albopictus within an urban site composed of approximately 1,000 parcels (home and yard) in northeastern USA. Dual applications at mid label rate of the adulticide spaced one or two days apart accomplished significantly higher control (85.0 ± 5.4% average reduction) than single full rate applications (73.0 ± 5.4%). Our results demonstrate that nighttime ULV adulticiding is effective in reducing Ae. albopictus abundance and highlight its potential for use as part of integrated pest management programs and during disease epidemics when reducing human illness is of paramount importance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aedes* / pathogenicity
  • Aedes* / physiology
  • Aedes* / virology
  • Alphavirus Infections* / transmission
  • Alphavirus Infections* / virology
  • Animals
  • Chikungunya Fever
  • Chikungunya virus / pathogenicity
  • Dengue Virus / pathogenicity
  • Dengue* / transmission
  • Dengue* / virology
  • Humans
  • Insect Vectors
  • Mosquito Control / methods*
  • Pesticides / standards*

Substances

  • Pesticides

Grants and funding

This work was funded by a cooperative Agreement between USDA and Rutgers University (USDA-ARS-58-6615-8-105) entitled “Area-wide Pest Management Program for the Asian Tiger Mosquito in New Jersey.” The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.