UNCREWED AERIAL SPRAY SYSTEMS FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL: EFFICACY STUDIES FOR SPACE SPRAYS.

Achieving an appropriate droplet size distribution for adulticiding has proved problematic for unmanned aerial spray systems (UASSs). The high-pressure pumping systems utilized on crewed aircraft conflict with the weight constraints of UASSs. The alternative is a lightweight rotary atomizer, which when run at a maximum rpm with a minimal flow rate can achieve the appropriate droplet size distribution.

A Technical Review of MULV-Disp, a Recent Mosquito Ultra-Low Volume Pesticide Spray Dispersion Model.

The authors of a recently published paper summarized the development of a regression model for ground-based ultra-low volume applications, suggesting that their model was sufficiently verified that it could be used extensively for mosquito control. These authors claimed that their statistical model was superior in its predictive capability to the extensively developed and Environmental Protection Agency-validated AGDISP mechanistic model. In this technical review, the assumptions, reduction and interpretation of data, and conclusions reached with regard to their model are discussed, and explicit misstatements and incorrect mathematical relationships are pointed out.

Efficacy of aerial ultra-low volume applications of two novel water-based formulations of unsynergized pyrethroids against riceland mosquitoes in Greece.

We assessed the efficacy of ultra-low volume aerial adulticiding with 2 new water-based, unsynergized formulations of Aqua-K-Othrin (2% deltamethrin) and Pesguard S102 (10% d-phenothrin) against the riceland mosquitoes of Greece. A helicopter with Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation, real-time weather recording, and spray dispersal modeling (AgDISP) was utilized to accurately treat the experimental blocks by adjusting spray line positions to changing meteorological conditions. Two application rates were applied per formulation that corresponded to 0.

A droplet collection device and support system for ultra-low-volume adulticide trials.

A supporting stand to suspend rotating impactors and mosquito cages is a requirement for field tests during pesticide efficacy trials. We present schematics for a collection device and associated support system for sampling droplets of ultra-low-volume (ULV) sprays during mosquito adulticide applications. This system offers the advantages of cost efficiency, increased ease of deployment, off-season storage, visibility, stability, and ULV collection efficacy.

Caged mosquito bioassay: studies on cage exposure pathways, effects of mesh on pesticide filtration, and mosquito containment.

The caged mosquito bioassay places the test insects in a mesh cage in the path of an insecticidal space spray to investigate the effect of a machine or chemical type on mosquito mortality. The effects of different mesh densities on mosquito confinement and mortality were investigated. In addition, the predominant pathway for exposure of a caged mosquito bioassay was established.

Aerosol sampling: comparison of two rotating impactors for field droplet sizing and volumetric measurements.

This article compares the collection characteristics of a new rotating impactor Florida Latham Bonds (FLB) sampler for ultrafine aerosols with a mimic of the industry standard (Hock-type). The volume and droplet-size distribution collected by the rotating impactors were measured via spectroscopy and microscopy. The rotary impactors were colocated with an isokinetic air sampler for a total volume flux measurement and a laser diffraction instrument for droplet-size distribution measurement.