What do we do when the outbreak happens: Efficacy of existing mosquito control tools to new arboviral outbreaks

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

11:00 AM – 11:20 AM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 215/216

Presenting Author(s)

KW

Kathleen R. Walker

University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

Co-author(s)

Michael Riehle

Professor
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
DW

Daniel Williamson

University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

Co-Author(s)

KE

Kacey Ernst

University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

Co-author(s)

DG

Dawn Gouge

University of Arizona
Maricopa, Arizona

Zika outbreaks in 2016 demonstrated the challenges of controlling Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. In the event of new arboviral outbreaks vectored by this widespread species in the United States, many mosquito control agencies will need to adapt integrated vector management (IVM) programs designed for other vectors, such as Culex spp. From 2017 through 2019 we examined the impacts of two widely implemented strategies - targeted bacterial larvicide applications to drainage features and outdoor ULV adulticiding - on Ae. aegypti vectorial capacity. Vectorial capacity factors measured were vector population density and age structure. The study location was Maricopa County, Arizona, a large urban area including the city of Phoenix, with robust Ae. aegypti populations and at high risk for a Zika outbreak. Our study found that adulticiding with pyrethroids had no impact on Ae. aegypti density or age structure, probably due to high levels of insecticide resistance. Larviciding of drainage features also proved difficult and unlikely to suppress the vector population in this area.