The hidden world of Asian tiger mosquitoes: immature Aedes albopictus (Skuse) dominate in rainwater corrugated extension spouts

Ünlü, Işık; Faraji, Ary; Indelicato, Nicholas; Fonseca, Dina M.

doi:10.1093/trstmh/tru139

Cited by 37 publications

(34 citation statements)

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“…Greater Ae . albopictus larval prevalence in corrugated extension tubes than open (i.e., exposed) containers in urban residential areas has been previously reported [17]. Higher larval prevalence was found in containers such as tires, water bottles, tin cans, gutter hoses, corrugated pipes, and water drainage pipes etc.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

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

et al. 2016

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BackgroundThe 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.MethodologyOviposition preferences of Ae. albopictus females for open and cryptic cups were tested in semi-field experiments. Two conventional larvicidal sprayers were tested to determine droplet penetration and larvicidal efficacy in open and cryptic habitats using Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) in the field. Finally, the efficacy of pyriproxyfen autodissemination stations was assessed in cryptic and open cups in residential areas during 2013 and 2014.Principal FindingsGravid females strongly preferred cryptic (53.1±12.9 eggs/cup) over open (10.3±4.3 eggs/cup) cups for oviposition. Cryptic cups showed limited droplet penetration and produced 0.1–0.3% larval mortality with a conventional backpack and low-volume sprays of Bti. The autodissemination stations effectively contaminated these cryptic cups (59.3–84.6%) and produced 29.7–40.8% pupal mortality during 2013–2014. Significant pupal mortality was also observed in open cups.ConclusionsThe autodissemination station effectively exploits the oviposition behavior of wild gravid females to deliver pyriproxyfen to targeted oviposition habitats. Although the pupal mortality in cryptic cups was relatively lower than expected for the effective vector control. Autodissemination approach may be a suitable supporting tool to manage Ae. albopictus immatures in the cryptic habitats those are less accessible to conventional larvicidal sprays.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

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

et al. 2016

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“…Aedes albopictus prefer numerous smaller habitats, which is much different than wetland mosquito species that develop in habitats that are large and predictable [9]. We have also shown in previous studies [16] that immature Ae. albopictus numbers were higher in cryptic corrugated extension spouts (containers positioned on the ground horizontally) than open containers (containers positioned on the ground vertically) during the peak season (August).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…Previous studies have reported that corrugated extension spouts routinely contain larvae and pupae of Ae. albopictus in residential backyards of urban and suburban areas of northeastern USA [16]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because of the affinity of Ae. albopictus for cryptic habitats, area-wide larviciding using backpacks [19] or truck-mounted sprayers are not optimal control measures due to the poor penetration of pesticides into these habitats [16, 20]. Door-to-door source reduction campaigns are also labor and time intensive, often leading to ineffective control outcomes [21–23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effectiveness of autodissemination stations containing pyriproxyfen in reducing immature Aedes albopictus populations

et al. 2017

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Background Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, is an aggressive, highly anthropophilic, day-biting mosquito with an expanding geographic range. Suppression of Ae. albopictus is difficult because of the abundance and prevalence of larval habitats within peridomestic environments, particularly cryptic habitats such as corrugated extension spouts, fence post openings, discarded food containers, etc. Because of the challenges of eliminating or treating larval habitats of this species, we tested an autodissemination concept to contaminate these habitats with the insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen.MethodsOur study was conducted in the City of Trenton (Mercer County), New Jersey, USA (40°12′N, 74°44′W). We selected six hot spots, where five or more Ae. albopictus males or females were collected based on weekly trap surveillance. A trapping unit was a city block, approximately 0.8 ha (hot spot), where we deployed 26 to 28 autodissemination stations per treatment plot. To gauge efficacy, we deployed BGS traps, oviposition cups, and sentinel cups in treatment and control locations.ResultsWe found a significant reduction in eggs (P < 0.0001) and larval populations (P < 0.0001) as a result of treatment. Pupal mortality, as determined through bioassays, was also significantly higher in the treatment sites (P < 0.0001).ConclusionOur results clearly show the potential and unique use of the autodissemination stations to control immature Ae. albopictus in urban areas. Penetration of larvicides with existing methods are difficult to reach cryptic habitats, but the autodissemination approach, which exploits the oviposition behavior of the target pest, can be integrated into intervention programs. New tools are urgently needed to curb the expansion and public health implications of Ae. albopictus and other container-inhabiting species.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2034-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…Adult females select small, often dark, water-holding containers in which to lay their eggs (Hawley 1988, Yap et al 1995. Man-made containers include tires (Yee 2008), cemetery vases (Vezzani 2007), and down spout extensions (Unlu et al 2014), whereas natural containers include tree holes (Hawley 1988). In the United States, Ae.…”

Section: Nutrient Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Can Larval Ecology Tell Us About the Success ofAedes albopictus(Diptera: Culicidae) Within the United States?: Table 1.

Yee

2016

J Med Entomol

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Aedes albopictus (Skuse) was introduced in the United States approximately 30 years ago, and since has become an important pest and vector of disease. This species uses small water-holding containers as sites for oviposition and larval development. Larvae can consume a wide range of detritus-based energy sources, including microorganisms, and as such the type and quantity of detritus that enters these systems have been studied for the effects on adult populations. This review examines the documented responses of Ae. albopictus to different larval environments within the United States, and some of its unique ecology that may lead to a better understanding of its spread and success. Field surveys generally find larvae in shaded containers with high amounts of organic detritus. Larvae have higher survival and population growth under high amounts of detritus and microorganisms, but they also can outcompete other species when nutrients are limiting. Allocation of time to feeding by larvae is greater and more focused compared with resident species. These latter two points also may explain differences in carbon and nitrogen composition (nutrient stoichiometry), which point to a lower need for nitrogen. Combined, these facts suggest that the Ae. albopictus is a species with a relatively wide niche that had been able to exploit container habitats in the United States better than resident species. After 30 yr of research, only a narrow range of detritus types and environmental conditions have been examined. Data on factors affecting the production of adults and its spread and apparent success are still needed.

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The hidden world of Asian tiger mosquitoes: immature Aedes albopictus (Skuse) dominate in rainwater corrugated extension spouts

Abstract: We found that CES are an important source of Ae. albopictus in our region and propose that effective control strategies should be implemented to minimize mosquito populations from these cryptic habitats.

Cited by 37 publications

References 19 publications

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

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

Effectiveness of autodissemination stations containing pyriproxyfen in reducing immature Aedes albopictus populations

What Can Larval Ecology Tell Us About the Success ofAedes albopictus(Diptera: Culicidae) Within the United States?: Table 1.

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