Field comparison of thermal and non-thermal ultra-low-volume applications using water and diesel as solvents for managing dengue vector, Aedes aegypti.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness on Aedes aegypti (Linneo) (Diptera: Culicidae) of a larvicide-adulticide ULV formulation applied by a thermal or a cold fogger using different solvents.


METHODS
We applied, in field conditions, a ULV formulation containing pyriproxyfen and permethrin, using a thermal and a cold fogger and water or diesel as solvent. We determined the effectiveness of these applications on Ae. aegypti adults and larvae by different bioassays and measuring Breteau, house and adult indices.


RESULTS
When water was used as solvent, the treatments applied with the cold or the thermal foggers were equally effective on adult mortality (close to 90%) and adult emergence inhibition (% EI) (close to 70%). When the thermal fogger was used with water as solvent, the adult mortality outside the houses (85%) was higher, but not significantly different, than with diesel (65%). The contrary happens inside (22%vs. 58%), while there were no differences in %EI. Adult and larval indices behaved similarly in all areas, with a slight tendency for the treatments applied using water as solvent to be more effective.


CONCLUSIONS
Water-based formulations are equally or more effective than the one applied with diesel as solvent. The use of water as solvent will not only improve the effectiveness of this formulation but also reduce the environmental impact and costs of spraying compared to the use of diesel.
Centro de Investigaciones de Plagas e Insecticidas, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Instituto de Investigaciones e Ingeniería Ambiental (3IA), Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Laura
L
Harburguer
Alejandro
A
Lucia
Susana
S
Licastro
Eduardo
E
Zerba
Héctor
H
Masuh
D000330:Aedes; D000818:Animals; D003715:Dengue / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D005651:Fumigation; D005742:Gasoline; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors; D007306:Insecticides; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D026023:Permethrin; D011725:Pyridines; D012997:Solvents; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water
D005742:Gasoline; D007306:Insecticides; D011725:Pyridines; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; C055613:pyriproxyfen; D026023:Permethrin