title: Differences in male-female ratios of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) following ultra-low volume adulticide applications.
abstract: Suppression of Aedes albopictus populations is a substantial challenge for mosquito control programs globally because juveniles of this species are found in numerous kinds of domestic artificial containers that are difficult to detect, access, and eliminate. We conducted a multi-year assessment of the effect of different interventions to control Ae. albopictus near the northernmost geographic boundary of the species in temperate North America and deployed an array of BG-Sentinel traps for adult surveillance. Here we present the results of a comparative examination of adult sex ratios in urban and suburban areas, shifts in sex ratios after control interventions, and a discussion of the critical drivers of population dynamics of Ae. albopictus in our area. We collected significantly more male mosquitoes in urban as compared to suburban areas in June through September, but not in May (p<0.001). The higher number of male mosquitoes in urban areas could be attributed to a higher number of larval habitats within a closer proximity of the surveillance traps and the lower flight dispersal of males. Following application of adulticides in urban areas, Ae. albopictus male populations were reduced by 88% on average, which was higher than the 69% reduction in female populations. The higher reduction of male mosquitoes could be attributed to the smaller body mass of the males and their higher susceptibility to adulticides. The results of this study are directly relevant to the development of suitable control strategies that depend on manipulation of males, such as the sterile insect technique. The results could also be used to refine mosquito abatement by providing more accurate methods to determine the need and timing of vector control.
authors.affiliation: Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8536, United States of America; Mercer County Mosquito Control, 300 Scotch Road, West Trenton, NJ 08628, United States of America. Electronic address: iunlu@mercercounty.org.
authors.forename: Isik
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Unlu
authors.affiliation: Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8536, United States of America; Mercer County Mosquito Control, 300 Scotch Road, West Trenton, NJ 08628, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ary
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farajollahi
authors.affiliation: Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8536, United States of America; Suffolk County Vector Control, Yaphank, NY, 11980, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ilia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rochlin
authors.affiliation: Monmouth County Mosquito Extermination Commission, 1901 Wayside Rd., Tinton Falls, NJ 07724, United States of America.
authors.forename: Taryn N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Crepeau
authors.affiliation: USDA Agricultural Research Service, Office of National Programs, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, MD 20782, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Strickman
authors.affiliation: Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8536, United States of America.
authors.forename: Randy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gaugler
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D000818:Animals; D002947:Cities; D005260:Female; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D009656:North America; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012621:Seasons; D012744:Sex Ratio
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides
keywords: Asian tiger mosquito; BG-Sentinel trap; Male mosquito; New Jersey; Population dynamics