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Research Project: Biting Arthropod Surveillance and Control

Location: Mosquito and Fly Research

Title: Attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSB): a novel vector management tool

Author
item Kline, Daniel - Dan
item MULLER, GUNTER - University Of Bamako
item JUNNILA, AMY - University Of Bamako
item XUE, RUI-DE - Anastasia Mosquito Control District

Submitted to: Journal of the American Chemical Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/24/2018
Publication Date: 9/28/2018
Citation: Kline, D.L., Muller, G.C., Junnila, A., Xue, R. 2018. Attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSB): a novel vector management tool. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 1289(5):63-73. https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2018-1289.ch005.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2018-1289.ch005

Interpretive Summary: This was a multi-agency effort to evaluate a new technology for the control of mosquitoes. The new technology utilizes the adult mosquitoes need to feed on sugar to maintain essential life functions such as flight, location of mates, and location of sites for the female mosquitoes to lay their eggs. This technique focuses on target species with minimal impact on non-target species since they respond to different attractants to locate sugar sources.

Technical Abstract: The potential for use of attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSB) in vector control is very promising. While vector control strategies focus largely on indoor measures, such as long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) and indoor residual sprays (IRS, ATBS methods exploit the need of mosquitoes and other biting diptera to feed frequently on outdoor plants to obtain sugar as an energy source required to sustain life functions such as flight and reproduction. Studies in which ATBS has been used either as a foliar spray or as bait stations have shown that local populations of aedine, anopheline and culicine mosquitoes have been significantly reduced. Preliminary studies have also shown the successful use of these ATSB methods against phlebotomine sandflies. Studies have been initiated to evaluate the efficacy of ATSB against adult ceratopogonid biting midges. Minimal impact to non-target species is expected and demonstrated to date since most non-target species respond to different attractants to locate sugar sources. For example, honey bees and other pollinators rely more on visual than olfactory cues to find their host plants.