title: An aerial spot-spraying technique: a pilot study to test a method for pest eradication in urban environments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pest eradication strategies that use pesticides require application methods that have the lowest environmental and human health impact while maintaining the highest probability of success. This is highly important when eradication takes place in sensitive areas, such as urban or riparian zones. A new aerial application method, the spot-gun, was developed to provide good pesticide coverage on host species while minimising off-target exposure. This type of targeted aerial approach is useful in areas where conventional broadcast aerial spraying was historically used but was not ideal due to the quantity of pesticide hitting non-host species and going off-target. An even distribution of the active component is essential for eradication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The spot-gun method was tested and found to provide an even distribution of dye on the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces as well as in the top and middle regions in both the inner and outer portions of the canopy. The form of the deposits on the leaf surface was very different from that obtained using a broadcast aerial application with a conventional spray boom.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distribution results imply that the spot-gun method treatment will provide good efficacy. The implications of the different deposit pattern on efficacy are not known at this stage. This aerial spot-spray method has considerable potential as a tool for targeted aerial application of pesticides to small areas of difficult to reach canopies.
authors: Scion, Crown Research Institute, Te Papa Tipu Innovation Park, 49 Sala Street, Rotorua, 3010 New Zealand.
authors: Tara M
authors: TM
authors: Strand
authors: Scion, Crown Research Institute, Te Papa Tipu Innovation Park, 49 Sala Street, Rotorua, 3010 New Zealand.
authors: Carol A
authors: CA
authors: Rolando
authors: Scion, Crown Research Institute, Te Papa Tipu Innovation Park, 49 Sala Street, Rotorua, 3010 New Zealand.
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Richardson
authors: Scion, Crown Research Institute, Te Papa Tipu Innovation Park, 49 Sala Street, Rotorua, 3010 New Zealand.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Gous
authors: Scion, Crown Research Institute, Te Papa Tipu Innovation Park, 49 Sala Street, Rotorua, 3010 New Zealand.
authors: Martin Kf
authors: MK
authors: Bader
authors: Hammond Resource Management Ltd, PO Box 1035, Rotorua, 3040 New Zealand.
authors: Don
authors: D
authors: Hammond
keywords: Aerial application; Deposition; Efficacy; Eradication; Spot-spray