EVALUATION OF A NEW TRUCK-MOUNTED ULV SPRAYING MACHINE WITH BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS VAR. ISRAELENSIS AGAINST LARVAL CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS

Abstract

A field study about the effectiveness of a new truck-mounted ultra-low-volume (ULV) machine against larval Culex quinquefasciatus Say was conducted at Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County, St. Augustine, FL, during the summer of 2017. Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae were treated using a ground application at different concentrations of Bti using a new truck-mounted ULV sprayer with a horizontal nozzle. Mortality of larvae was recorded after 24 h, and droplet sizes were measured. Overall, Bti sprayed by the new truck-mounted ULV spraying machine at a concentration of 2.625 mg/L resulted in the highest mortality of mosquito larvae. The results indicate that the Bti concentrations of 0.875 mg/L and 0.065 mg/L resulted in a significant difference in mean larval mortality between each distance from the spray line (P < 0.05), while the mortality by the other 3 concentrations (0.477 mg/L, 2.625 mg/L, and 5.25 mg/L) tested did not. The LC50 and LC90 of Bti against larvae were 0.261 mg/L (0.239~0.286) and 1.687 mg/L (1.481~1.922), respectively. The coverage (swath) of the spray by the new ULV machine showed that the Bti could be sprayed at least 33 meters away with a 20 meter width. Therefore, the new truck-mounted ULV spraying machine with liquid Bti could be used to treat a large area effectively and efficiently and as an additional tool for the control of mosquito larvae.