Effects of aerial adulticiding for mosquito management on nontarget insects: A Bayesian and community ecology approach

Abstract

AbstractDiseases transmitted by mosquitoes are emerging across the globe in a broad range of urbanized, rural, and natural environments inhabited by their vector species. Because applications of insecticides remain the most effective, and often the only available tool to prevent or control mosquito‐borne disease outbreaks, their use and scope continue to expand. However, the effects of multiple insecticide applications targeting adult mosquitoes on nontarget insect communities remain poorly characterized. To remedy this knowledge gap, we conducted an evaluation of five aerial insecticide applications on insect communities in a natural environment near Salt Lake City, Utah. Employing a before–after–control–impact approach, we assessed abundance and community composition changes over the study period utilizing Bayesian and community ecology analytical methods. We observed no discernible effects on most insect taxa, and there were no changes in the overall insect community composition. The abundance of Diptera, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera declined in control and treatment sites, Odonata increased over the period of the study, and Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera remained similar, suggesting seasonal trends rather than treatment effects. The only consistently detectable treatment effect was on nonbiting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae), that are closely related to mosquitoes taxonomically and have similar body size and diel activity. Midge abundance declined by 79.9% (95% credible interval: 58.4–91.9). Overall posttreatment abundance decline of 62.2% (95% credible interval: 22.5–87.8) was also detected for leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), but, these declines were inconsistent and may be attributed to natural variability rather than the treatment effect. Treatment frequency, location, life‐stage targeting, and application techniques may mitigate the effects of mosquito control on nontarget insects to allow protecting human health while limiting environmental impacts.