Senior Field Biologist Clarke St. Charles, Illinois, United States
Abstract: Ultra low volume cold aerosol spraying relies on creating a very large number of very small droplets so that the likelihood of impinging on mosquitoes is maximized. Previous research has investigated the size of droplets that impinge most efficiently as well as the location of the body where insecticides are most readily absorbed. High resolution photography allows for visual confirmation of past research, and an investigation of the influence of simulated cloud dynamics in a spray chamber. By taking a series of pictures at a fixed focal length and incrementally moving the subject closer to the lens, a composite image can be created that maintains sharp focus in all parts of an image. Imaging software can be used to count and size the droplets in various locations of the mosquito in a repeatable way as long as the focal length of the lens remains unchanged. High resolution visuals make the droplet requirements of ultra low volume sprays easy to communicate to new and seasoned mosquito control professionals alike.
