title: Evaluation of ULV and thermal fog mosquito control applications in temperate and desert environments.
abstract: Ultra-low-volume (ULV) and thermal fog aerosol dispersals of pesticides have been used against mosquitoes and other insects for half a century. Although each spray technology has advantages and disadvantages, only 7 studies have been identified that directly compare their performance in the field. US military personnel currently operating in hot-arid environments are impacted by perpetual nuisance and disease vector insect problems, despite adulticide operations using modern pesticide-delivery equipment such as ULV. None of the identified comparative studies has looked at the relative feasibility and efficacy of ULV and thermal fog equipment against mosquitoes in hot-arid environments. In this study we examine the impact of ULV and thermal fog applications of malathion against caged sentinel mosquitoes in the field in a warm temperate area of Florida, followed by a similar test in a hot-dry desert area of southern California. Patterns of mortality throughout 150 m x 150 m grids of sentinel mosquitoes indicate greater efficacy from the thermal fog application in both environments under suboptimal ambient weather conditions. We discuss the implications of these findings for future military preventive medicine activities and encourage further investigations into the relative merits of the 2 technologies for force health protection.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
authors.forename: Seth C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Britch
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Linthicum
authors.forename: Wayne W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Wynn
authors.forename: Todd W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farooq
authors.forename: Vincent L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Cathy A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Branka B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Lothrop
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Snelling
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Hugh D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Lothrop
authors.forename: Jerry D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kerce
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Becnel
authors.forename: Ulrich R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Bernier
authors.forename: Julia W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Pridgeon
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000187:drug effects*; D004777:Environment; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008294:Malathion / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D007306:Insecticides; D008294:Malathion