title: Testing fungus impregnated cloths for the control of adult Aedes aegypti under natural conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Entomopathogenic fungi could be useful tools for reducing populations of the dengue mosquito Aedes aegypti. Here the efficiency of fungus (Metarhizium anisopliae) impregnated cloths (with and without imidacloprid [IMI]) was evaluated against adult A. aegypti in simulated human dwellings. Behaviour of mosquitoes in the presence of black cloths was also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When mosquitoes were released into the test rooms, the lowest survival rates (38%) were seen when five black cloths impregnated with conidia of ESALQ 818 + 10 ppm IMI were fixed under tables and chairs. This result was significantly lower than the survival rate recorded when cloths were impregnated with ESALQ 818 alone (44%) or ESALQ 818 + 0.1 ppm IMI (43%). Blood fed A. aegypti had lower landing frequencies on black cloths than sucrose fed insects during the first 24 h following feeding, which may have been due to reduced flight activity. Few mosquitoes (4-5%) were observed to land on the cloths during the hours of darkness. The landing pattern of sucrose-fed mosquitoes on non-treated and fungus-treated cloths was similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The synergism between M. anisopliae and IMI significantly reduced Aedes survival in simulated field conditions. The use of fungus impregnated cloths is a promising point source application method for the control of adult A. aegypti.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes RJ CEP 28013-602, Brazil. richardiansamuels@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Adriano R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Paula
authors.forename: Aline T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Carolino
authors.forename: Carlos P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: César R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Richard I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Samuels
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D052981:Metarhizium / Q000254:growth & development*; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D007306:Insecticides; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds; C082359:imidacloprid