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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 #227246
Title: Efficacy of residual bifenthrin applied to landscape vegetation against Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae).

Author
item Doyle, Melissa
item Kline, Daniel - Dan
item Allan, Sandra - Sandy
item KAUFMAN, PHILLIP - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/3/2009
Publication Date: 4/30/2009
Citation: Doyle, M.A., Kline, D.L., Allan, S.A., Kaufman, P.E. 2009. Efficacy of residual bifenthrin applied to landscape vegetation against Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 25(2):179-183.

Interpretive Summary: The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus was first detected in 1985 and is now established in 28 states. In addition to being a nuisance to humans, this species is able to vector many pathogens, including Dengue. Aedes albopictus is active during the day which decreases the likelihood that it will be impacted by organized mosquito control efforts aimed to control mosquitoes active in the evening. In this study conducted at the Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE) in Gainesville (Florida) the response of this mosquito to residual pesticides applied to common residential landscape plants was evaluated. The species of plant clearly impacted the effectiveness of the pesticide in knocking down Ae. albopictus mosquitoes. Additionally, these assays showed that residual treatments are most effective for the first week following treatment of landscape vegetation. These methods provide a basis for understanding the longevity of a residual pesticide treatment that will improve residual pesticide applications on vegetation for mosquitoes.

Technical Abstract: The day-time biting mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse) is a nuisance pest commonly found in suburban yards. The recommended course of treatment for Ae. albopictus is to keep yards free of water-holding containers, however, infestations of adults may require additional control methods such as residual pesticide applications to vegetation. The residual efficacy of bifenthrin treatment on five plants commonly found in yards or in uncultivated areas in Gainesville, FL were chosen as substrates for evaluation of the effectiveness of residual bifenthrin against 5-7 day old female Ae. albopictus. Knock down of mosquitoes after one hour of exposure was highest the day of and 7 days after treatment. Plant species clearly impacted the effectiveness of residual bifenthrin. One hour knock down 7 days after treatment remained high (>62%) only on azalea and holly bush vegetation. Knock down counts 24 hours after exposure demonstrated that residual efficacy of bifenthrin was highest on azalea, with > 77% mortality for up to 35 days. Additional bioassays also found significant differences in the knock down rates of male, female, gravid and blood-fed Ae. albopictus exposed to residual bifenthrin treatments, with the highest knock down in these bioassays observed on the day of and 7 days after treatment.