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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 #309872
Title: SR450 and Superhawk XP applications of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis de Barjac against Culex quinquefasciatus Say

Author
item DUNFORD, JAMES - Navy And Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC)
item STOOPS, CRAIG - Navy And Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC)
item ESTEP, ALDEN - Department Of Defense
item Gibson, Seth
item RICHARDSON, ALEC - Department Of Defense
item WALKER, TODD - Department Of Defense
item FAROOQ, MUHAMMAD - Department Of Defense
item HOEL, DAVID - Navy And Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC)
item PLATT, RAYMOND - Department Of Defense
item SMITH, VINCENT - Department Of Defense
item WIRTZ, ROBERT - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) - United States
item KERCE, JERRY - Department Of Defense

Submitted to: Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/19/2014
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: This study was conducted to compare the effects of applying mosquito larvicide with a hand-carried thermal fog sprayer versus a traditional backpack cold-mist engine powered sprayer. There is a need to gather evidence that these kinds of sprayers could be useful for dispersing larvicide into and through vegetation and hard-to-reach places and therefore improve upon larvicides dispersed by hand. The study determined that both devices performed equally well and could be an effective part of a program to reduce mosquito larvae in rough terrain.

Technical Abstract: Sprayer comparisons and larval morality assays were conducted following SR450 backpack mist blower and Superhawk XP thermal fogger applications of Vectobac® WDG Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) de Barjac against Culex quinquefasciatus Say. Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis was applied at maximum label rate in a 2500 ft2 (232.26 m2) field plot located in north central Florida with containers placed at two heights (ground level and 60 in [1.52 m] above ground) on stakes positioned 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ft (3.04, 6.09, 9.14, 12.19, and 15.24 m) from the spray line. Results indicate that there was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in 24 h and 48 h larval mortality between the two sprayers or between the two heights. There was significant difference (P < 0.05) among the five rows, with mortality continuously decreasing with increasing distance from sprayer. Both sprayers provided on average >70% larval mortality 10-30 ft (3.04-9.14 m) from the spray line and <60% mortality at 40 and 50 ft (12.19 and 15.24 m). The data suggest that the SR450 and Superhawk XP may be comparable sprayers for use with Bti to control mosquito larvae.