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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 #349923
Research Project: Biting Arthropod Surveillance and Control

Location: Mosquito and Fly Research

Title: Spatial repellents on strips of camouflage netting reduce mosquito collections in a field environment

Author
item HELMEY, WENDY - Department Of Defense
item Kline, Daniel - Dan
item Gibson, Seth
item Aldridge, Robert
item Golden, Frances
item BLERSCH, JESSIKA - Department Of Defense
item RICHARDSON, ALEC - Department Of Defense
item Linthicum, Kenneth - Ken

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2018
Publication Date: 2/15/2018
Citation: Helmey, W.L., Kline, D.L., Britch, S.C., Aldridge, R.L., Golden, F.V., Blersch, J.S., Richardson, A.G., Linthicum, K. 2018. Spatial repellents on strips of camouflage netting reduce mosquito collections in a field environment. Meeting Abstract. pg. 1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Barrier treatments can be effective in reducing host seeking mosquito vectors and provide an additional layer of passive defense, reducing disease risk. Devices designed to release spatial repellents or direct application of spatial repellents to artificial surfaces can serve as efficient barriers reducing human-mosquito contact. In military settings camouflage netting provides cover and concealment and is widespread in its use. In this study we compared the efficacy of permethrin-treated and transfluthrin-treated strips of desert-pattern radar-scattering camouflage netting in preventing mosquitoes from entering small enclosures covered in camouflage netting in a field environment in Florida. Fewer mosquitoes were collected in enclosures with treated strips when compared to enclosures with strips that were not treated. Two treated strips significantly reduced mosquito collections when compared with enclosures with a single treated strip. Transfluthrin treated strips reduced mosquito collections more than permethrin treated strips. Application of spatial repellents to military camouflage nettings offers a promising technique to reduce the threat from mosquito and possibly other vector population to military troops in deployed settings.