Implications for operational control of adult mosquito production in cisterns and wells in St. Augustine, FL using attractive sugar baits

• Published in: Acta tropica 2012-11, Vol.124 (2), p.158-161
• Main Authors: Qualls, Whitney A., Xue, Rudy, Revay, Edita E., Allan, Sandra A., Müller, Günter C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adults; Aedes albopictus; Animals; Anopheles crucians; ATSB; Attractive toxic sugar baits; baits; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Carbohydrates; Cisterns; Control; Culex quinquefasciatus; Culicidae - drug effects; Culicidae - physiology; Ecosystem; Female; Florida; General aspects; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; mortality; Mosquito Control - methods; Pheromones; Rutilus rutilus; St. Augustine, FL; Staining and Labeling - methods; sugar feeding; sugars; toxicity; Toxorhynchites rutilus; traps; Wells
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2012.07.004

We evaluated the number of resting and emerging mosquitoes feeding on a dyed sugar bait in cisterns and wells in St. Augustine, FL. Overall, 90% (1482/1644) of the resting and emerging mosquitoes that were trapped were stained. A novel type of exit trap: A structure made out of wood (48″×48″ with 9′ legs) with an acrylic sheet top (48″x48″) was constructed to cover the well and cistern openings. Tangle-Trap® Sticky Coating Paste Formula was painted on the side of the acrylic sheet that the mosquito would come in contact with while exiting the cistern or well. [Display omitted] ► We evaluated sugar baits in wells and cisterns in St. Augustine, FL. ► We monitored the number of stained resting and emerging mosquitoes from wells and cisterns. ► Overall, the majority of the mosquitoes trapped were stained from feeding on the sugar bait. The aim of this study was to further investigate the use of attractive sugar baits as an effective, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly tool for integrated mosquito management programs. Mosquitoes were offered dyed sugar bait in wells and cisterns in an urban tourist area in St. Augustine, FL. Exit traps were constructed to cover the well and cistern openings so the number of resting and emerging mosquitoes stained by feeding on the sugar bait could be monitored. Four mosquito species were collected from these structures: Aedes albopictus (Skuse), Anopheles crucians (Wiedemann), Culex quinquefasciatus Say, and Toxorhynchites rutilus rutilus (Coquillett). Overall, 90% (1482/1644) of the mosquitoes trapped were stained. In general, the number of mosquitoes stained was significantly greater in wells (P