Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #315837
Title: Mosquito and filth fly control in desert and temperate environments with a synergized pesticide mister and barrier treatment

Author
item Gibson, Seth
item Linthicum, Kenneth - Ken
item Aldridge, Robert
item KERCE, JERRY - Department Of Defense
item WITTIE, JEREMY - Coachella Valley Mosquito And Vector Control District
item WHITE, GREGORY - Coachella Valley Mosquito And Vector Control District
item GUTIERREZ, ARTURO - Coachella Valley Mosquito And Vector Control District
item SNELLING, MELISSA - Coachella Valley Mosquito And Vector Control District

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: U.S. military operations face significant negative impacts on mission readiness from disease-vector and nuisance filth flies, mosquitoes, and sand flies. Through the Deployed War Fighter Protection Program (DWFP) we previously developed small scale 9 ft by 3 ft pesticide-treated perimeters enhanced with timed pesticide misting systems that reduced populations of these insects or reduced insect-human contact in a range of environments. In this study we investigated large scale 42 ft by 39 ft treated HESCO blast wall perimeters enhanced with a pesticide misting system. We conducted preliminary trials using a permethrin formulation against mosquitoes in a warm humid environment in north-central Florida, and set the mister to spray outwards from the top of the perimeter during peak night mosquito activity. Although population numbers were low overall, mosquito numbers were somewhat reduced within the large HESCO perimeter with the mister present. Later more extensive trials were conducted with a similar perimeter and mister configuration against filth flies in a hot-arid desert environment in southern California during peak morning fly activity. Efficacy was measured by the number of flies captured in 20 minute replicates within the perimeter lacking the mister compared to the number captured during 20 minute replicates of pulsed misting with the permethrin formulation. When the spray was directed towards the outside of the perimeter flies were reduced by >71%; however, when the spray was directed towards the interior the reduction was >84%. We discuss potential real-world military and civilian applications of this configuration to reduce nuisance flies and transmission of enteric disease pathogens.