Comparative Efficacy of , , and and Influence of Prey Density for Biological Control of Larvae.

Larval survival times and density-dependent feeding behavior were evaluated with the use of 2 species of fish native to the northeastern USA ( and ) and the potentially invasive . Each species was provided 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 4th-stage larvae of /fish in the laboratory and digital images were recorded to quantify the number of surviving larvae at various intervals. Daily feeding rates were greatest at the highest larval density.

Seasonal field efficacy of pyriproxyfen autodissemination stations against container-inhabiting mosquito Aedes albopictus under different habitat conditions.

Background: Control of the container-inhabiting mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is difficult using conventional methods due to its selection of cryptic peri-domestic habitats. We evaluated whether autodissemination stations can deliver sufficient pyriproxyfen to sentinel containers to produce significant pupal mortality in different habitats such as competing oviposition sites, peri-domestic habitats, junkyards and tire piles. We also tested how far the pesticide could be transferred over a 200-m range.

Targeting a Hidden Enemy: Pyriproxyfen Autodissemination Strategy for the Control of the Container Mosquito Aedes albopictus in Cryptic Habitats.

Background: The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is a vector of dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika viruses. This mosquito inhabits a wide range of artificial water-holding containers in urban and suburban areas making it difficult to control. We tested the hypothesis that female-driven autodissemination of an insect growth regulator could penetrate cryptic oviposition habitats difficult to treat with conventional insecticidal sprays.

Vertical Oviposition Preferences of the Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes albopictus, In Temperate North America.

As a hyperaggressive mosquito that is also a public health threat, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), the Asian tiger mosquito, is a major priority for control efforts. We examine one aspect of Ae. albopictus biology: oviposition height.

Susceptibility of field-collected mosquitoes in central New Jersey to organophosphates and a pyrethroid.

Chemical insecticides are the primary means to control mosquitoes, and mosquito control programs must regularly monitor for resistance of mosquito vectors to commonly used insecticides to ensure the efficacy and sustainability of active ingredients. We performed insecticide resistance bioassays to test the susceptibility of field-collected mosquitoes in central New Jersey to 1 larvicide (temephos) and 2 adulticides (malathion and sumithrin). Larval susceptibility of Culex pipiens pipiens to temephos provided median concentration (LC50) and 95% lethal concentration (LC95) values of 1.

Taming a tiger in the city: comparison of motorized backpack applications and source reduction against the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus.

We evaluated 2 strategies to manage Aedes albopictus: 1) motorized backpack applications and 2) source reduction (coupled with hand-applied applications of larvicide). Backpack applications used a water-dispersible granular formulation (VectoBac WDG) of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti), whereas source reduction used granular formulations of the insect growth regulator methoprene (Altosid) combined with a monomolecular film surfactant (Agnique).

Area-wide management of Aedes albopictus: choice of study sites based on geospatial characteristics, socioeconomic factors and mosquito populations.

Background: Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse), the Asian tiger mosquito, is an introduced invasive species in the United States that is responsible for a significant proportion of service requests to local mosquito control programs. This container-utilizing mosquito is refractory to standard mosquito abatement measures in the United States. This study is part of a USDA-ARS project to develop an area-wide management strategy for Ae.

Comparative field analyses of rapid analyte measurement platform and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays for West Nile virus surveillance.

Rapid detection of West Nile virus (WNV) in mosquito pools is essential for predicting epizootics and epidemics. We compare the efficiency and sensitivity of the Rapid Analyte Measurement Platform (RAMP) to reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from 2005 to 2008 from field mosquito populations in Mercer County, NJ. Overall, 316 pools tested negative and 115 pools tested positive for WNV.

A simplified tripod support for use with carbon dioxide-baited vector surveillance traps.

A vector surveillance trap support was designed as a tripod of polyvinyl chloride pipes to suspend carbon dioxide-baited traps. This system offers several advantages, including increased ease of transport and trap placement at varied sampling sites, particularly in adverse environments not conducive to previous methods of support. Presentation of the simple design and manufacture of the tripod support is provided.

Laboratory colonization of Aedes japonicus japonicus.

We describe methodology used for the laboratory colonization of Aedes japonicus japonicus, an exotic mosquito species native to eastern Asia and first collected in New Jersey as larvae in 1999. We created a free mating colony in 2000 that readily bloodfed on restrained bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus). A larval diet of finely ground Purina Lab Diet dissolved in dechlorinated water has proven acceptable.