The efficacy of attractive targeted sugar baits in reducing malaria vector abundance in low-endemicity settings of northwest Mali.

Background: Attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) have the potential to significantly reduce infective female Anopheles mosquitoes in arid areas, such as in Northern Mali. Malaria is epidemic in the north due to the limited viability of Anopheles species in the desert climate. The goal of this study was to determine of the effect of ATSB on the number of older female An.

Evaluation of Freezanz automated misting system against mosquitoes.

Automated misting systems are a convenient way for homeowners or small businesses to control adult mosquitoes. One such system was presented to the Anastasia Mosquito Control District (AMCD) for evaluation to control caged Aedes aegypti. The system consisted of 3 spray tanks, 2 pumps, water level sensors, and flow meters, and was controlled through an Android tablet loaded with dedicated control software.

BASELINE SUSCEPTABILITY AND FIRST OBSERVATION OF KNOCKDOWN RESISTANCE IN AEDES TAENIORHYNCHUS POPULATION OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA.

The black saltmarsh mosquito, Aedes taeniorhynchus, is a prominent nuisance mosquito within St. Johns County, Florida. Due to their characteristically large outbreaks, and the elevated amount of insecticide application correlated with the outbreaks, local populations of Ae.

Insights and Challenges for the Development of Mosquito Control Action Thresholds Using Historical Mosquito Surveillance and Climate Datasets.

Strategies to advance action threshold development can benefit both civilian and military vector control operations. The Anastasia Mosquito Control District (AMCD) has curated an extensive record database of surveillance programs and operational control activities in St. Johns County, Florida, since 2004.

Evaluation of Modified Autocidal Gravid Ovitraps for Control of Aedes Aegypti in St. Augustine, Florida.

Aedes aegypti is an anthropophilic mosquito that vectors dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever viruses. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s autocidal gravid ovitraps (AGOs) may facilitate the control of container-inhabiting Aedes mosquitoes and curb arbovirus outbreaks by taking advantage of oviposition-seeking behavior using pesticide-free technology. The AGOs, manufactured by SpringStar Inc.

EVALUTION OF MODIFIED AUTOCIDAL GRAVID OVITRAPS FOR CONTROL OF AEDES AEGYPTI IN ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.

Aedes aegypti is an anthropophilic mosquito that vectors dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever viruses. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s autocidal gravid ovitraps (AGOs) may facilitate the control of container-inhabiting Aedes mosquitoes and curb arbovirus outbreaks by taking advantage of oviposition-seeking behavior using pesticide-free technology. The AGOs, manufactured by SpringStar Inc.

Vector Biology and Integrated Management of Malaria Vectors in China.

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites, transmitted by , , , and in China. In 2021, the disease was eliminated in China after more than 70 years of efforts implementing an integrated mosquito management strategy. This strategy comprised indoor residual spray, insecticide-treated bed nets, irrigation management, and rice-fish coculture based on an understanding of taxonomic status and ecological behaviors of vector species, in conjunction with mass drug administration and promotion of public education.

On the Origin and Evolution of the Mosquito Male-determining Factor Nix.

The mosquito family Culicidae is divided into 2 subfamilies named the Culicinae and Anophelinae. Nix, the dominant male-determining factor, has only been found in the culicines Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, 2 important arboviral vectors that belong to the subgenus Stegomyia. Here we performed sex-specific whole-genome sequencing and RNAseq of divergent mosquito species and explored additional male-inclusive datasets to investigate the distribution of Nix.

Mosquito-borne diseases in India over the past 50 years and their Global Public Health Implications: A Systematic Review.

Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) pose a significant public health concern globally, and India, with its unique eco-sociodemographic characteristics, is particularly vulnerable to these diseases. This comprehensive review aims to provide an in-depth overview of MBDs in India, emphasizing their impact and potential implications for global health. The article explores distribution, epidemiology, control or elimination, and economic burden of the prevalent diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, and lymphatic filariasis, which collectively contribute to millions of cases annually.

Seasonal Abundance of Aedes Sollicitans and Aedes Taeniorhynchus Related to Temperature, Rainfall and Tidal Levels in Northeastern Florida.

The Anastasia Mosquito Control District, which manages mosquitoes in St. Johns County in northeastern Florida, has observed that the maximum numbers of the salt marsh mosquitoes, Aedes taeniorhynchus and Ae. sollicitan appeared to shift or change relative to each other, as evidenced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light trap data in the past 17 years.

Insecticide resistance: Status and potential mechanisms in Aedes aegypti.

Aedes aegypti, an important vector in the transmission of human diseases, has developed resistance to two commonly used classes of insecticides, pyrethroids and organophosphates, in populations worldwide. This study examined sensitivity/resistance to chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion, malathion, deltamethrin, permethrin, and β-cyfluthrin, along with possible metabolic detoxification and target site insensitivity, in three Aedes aegypti mosquito strains. The resistant strain (PR) had developed high levels of resistance to all three pyrethroid insecticides compared to a susceptible population, with 6, 500-, 3200- and 17,000-fold resistance to permethrin, β-cyfluthrin, and deltamethrin, respectively.

Diversity and Genetic Reassortment of Keystone Virus in Mosquito Populations in Florida.

Keystone orthobunyavirus (KEYV), a member of the genus Orthobunyavirus, was first isolated in 1964 from mosquitoes in Keystone, Florida. Although data on human infections are limited, the virus has been linked to a fever/rash syndrome and, possibly, encephalitis, with early studies suggesting that 20% of persons in the Tampa, Florida, region had antibodies to KEYV. To assess the distribution and diversity of KEYV in other regions of Florida, we collected > 6,000 mosquitoes from 43 sampling sites in St.

A systematic review of published literature on mosquito control action thresholds across the world.

Background: Despite the use of numerous methods of control measures, mosquito populations and mosquito-borne diseases are still increasing globally. Evidence-based action thresholds to initiate or intensify control activities have been identified as essential in reducing mosquito populations to required levels at the correct/optimal time. This systematic review was conducted to identify different mosquito control action thresholds existing across the world and associated surveillance and implementation characteristics.

Efficacy Evaluation of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids as Skin and Spatial Repellents Against Aedes aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae) Mosquitoes.

Fatty acids derived from natural oils are considered as perspective products for adoption as repellents. Fatty acids derived from coconut oil have shown promise as repellents. This study consisted of an olfactometer evaluation of new formulations containing medium-chain fatty acids for spatial repellency and an in laboratory arm-in cage study for contact repellency against Aedes aegypti L.

Developing the radiation-based sterile insect technique (SIT) for controlling Aedes aegypti: identification of a sterilizing dose.

Background: The sterile insect technique (SIT) is emerging as a tool to supplement traditional pesticide-based control of Aedes aegypti, a prominent mosquito vector of microbes that has increased the global burden of human morbidity and mortality over the past 50 years. SIT relies on rearing, sterilizing and releasing large numbers of male mosquitoes that will mate with fertile wild females, thus reducing production of offspring from the target population. In this study, we investigated the effects of ionizing radiation (gamma) on male and female survival, longevity, mating behavior, and sterility of Ae.

Evaluation of Essential Oils as Spatial Repellents Against Aedes aegypti in an Olfactometer.

Spatial repellents are becoming an integral part of the integrated mosquito management and are considered another tool to prevent mosquito-borne diseases. They are also gaining attention as a potential disease transmission breaking strategy. Current vector control practices are losing their viability due to resistance development in arthropods to synthetic pesticides.

Status of Vector Control Capabilities and Capacities in Florida and Texas, and its Potential Public Health Consequences.

It has been reported that roughly 80% of vector control organizations throughout the southern USA lack critical capabilities to properly address potential vector populations and vector-borne diseases within their jurisdictions. This study further investigated current vector control capabilities and capacity within the states of Florida and Texas. It was reported that only 26% of jurisdictions in Florida and 14% in Texas reported that they were "fully capable.

Initial Survey of Mosquito Control Programs with Set Action Thresholds and Associated Surveillance Characteristics.

The establishment of action thresholds is becoming critical in mosquito control management to implement effective proactive control measures using limited available resources. As a part of a large-scale study to identify different mosquito control action thresholds used in different geographical regions, we conducted an initial survey to identify mosquito control programs that claim to have set action thresholds and to investigate their associated program characteristics. We identified 68% (USA), 60% (mainland Australia), 78% (Asia), 35% (Africa), and 50% (US military units) of the responding programs, which perform mosquito control, have set mosquito control action thresholds.

Laboratory Evaluation of Bigshot Maxim Against Three Species of Larval and Adult Mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Anopheles quadrimaculatus.

The use of synthetic insecticides has been the main approach in mosquito control programs (MCPs) to prevent or reduce mosquito populations. The global problem of insecticide resistance and the concern of environmental impacts of synthetic insecticides have resulted in the interest of botanicals as an alternative. In this study, the botanical product BigShot Maxim, which contains cedarwood oil (14%), thyme oil (0.

Evaluation of as toxic sugar bait against adult and mosquitoes.

Attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSB) are a novel and effective mosquito control tool based on sugar-feeding behaviors and oral ingestion. In general, there is a demand from consumers for more novel control products with more effective active ingredients. (BTi) is a major larvicide for control of mosquito larvae.

The Effects of Boric Acid Sugar Bait on Trans-Infected Male (ZAP Males) in Laboratory Conditions.

The field release of trans-infected male mosquitoes, as well as the use of toxic sugar baits, is a novel and promising candidate technique for integrated mosquito management programs. However, the methods of action of the two techniques may not be complementary, because the method releases mosquitoes into the environment expecting a wild population reduction in subsequent generations while the toxic baits are intended to reduce the wild population by killing mosquitoes. This laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of boric acid toxic sugar baits on trans-infected male , relative to wild-type males.

Testing configurations of attractive toxic sugar bait (ATSB) stations in Mali, West Africa, for improving the control of malaria parasite transmission by vector mosquitoes and minimizing their effect on non-target insects.

Background: Application methods of |Attractive Toxic Sugar Baits (ATSB) need to be improved for wide-scale use, and effects on non-target organisms (NTOs) must be assessed. The goals of this study were to determine, at the village level, the effect of different configurations of bait stations to (1) achieve < 25% Anopheles mosquito vector daily feeding rate for both males and females and (2) minimize the effect on non-target organisms.

Methods: Dye was added to Attractive Sugar Bait Stations (without toxin) to mark mosquitoes feeding on the baits, and CDC UV light traps were used to monitor for marked mosquitoes.

Fighting mosquito bite during a crisis: capabilities of Florida mosquito control districts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The stay-at-home orders imposed in early April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in various states complicated mosquito control activities across the United States (US), and Florida was no exception. Mosquito control programs are the first line of defense against mosquito-borne pathogens. The purpose of this study was to examine the capabilities of Florida mosquito programs to implement key mosquito measures during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

Modelling distributions of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus using climate, host density and interspecies competition.

Florida faces the challenge of repeated introduction and autochthonous transmission of arboviruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Empirically-based predictive models of the spatial distribution of these species would aid surveillance and vector control efforts. To predict the occurrence and abundance of these species, we fit a mixed-effects zero-inflated negative binomial regression to a mosquito surveillance dataset with records from more than 200,000 trap days, representative of 53% of the land area and ranging from 2004 to 2018 in Florida.