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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 #330510
Research Project: Biting Arthropod Surveillance and Control

Location: Mosquito and Fly Research

Title: Impact of topical application site efficacy of permethrin and malathion on Culex quinquefasciatus

Author
item Aldridge, Robert
item KAUFMAN, PHILLIP - University Of Florida
item BLOOMQUIST, JEFFREY - University Of Florida
item GEZAN, SALVADOR - University Of Florida
item Linthicum, Kenneth - Ken

Submitted to: Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/27/2016
Publication Date: 12/14/2016
Citation: Aldridge, R.L., Kaufman, P.E., Bloomquist, J.R., Gezan, S.A., Linthicum, K. 2016. Impact of topical application site efficacy of permethrin and malathion on Culex quinquefasciatus. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 32(4):300-307.

Interpretive Summary: We evaluated the lethality of 2 commonly used insecticides containing permethrin and piperonyl butoxide (PBO) or malathion when applied to one of six body regions of the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus. These body regions included the compound eye, the proboscis tip, the lateral mesothorax, the tip of one wing, a metathoracic tarsus, and the apical sternites of the abdomen. The purpose of this study was to determine if insecticide susceptibility in mosquitoes was constant while varying the insecticide exposure site across regions of the mosquito body. Our results showed that sensitivity across body regions was not uniform. The compound eyes were very sensitive and the legs were least sensitive to the insecticides.

Technical Abstract: Concentrations of permethrin and malathion found in droplets generated from ultra-low volume and low volume sprays used to control adult mosquito populations were evaluated for efficacy against Culex quinquefasciatus Say using a topical application bioassay. Although insecticide droplets will impinge on many exoskeletal body regions, traditional mosquito topical bioassays focus pesticide application to the mesothoracic pleural or dorsal area. Our results document non-uniform insecticide sensitivity across body regions not previously assessed in mosquitoes. Our findings provide valuable information for those utilizing a topical bioassay process, identifying the difference in mosquito body regions that ultimately may explain insecticide effectiveness wherever droplets impinge upon the mosquito body during laboratory or field applications.