Intensive Limited Area Control of Potential Arthropod Disease Vectors1

Abstract

Field studies on intensive limited area control of insects and mites were conducted at Woodbridge, Virginia, during July 1958. The studies were made in order to field test military insectcontrol equipment and obtain information useful in controlling arthropod disease vectors under emergency conditions, both civil and military. Natural populations of mites, mosquitoes, and other insects were sampled during a pretreatment period in a control and treatment area. In addition, from 100,000 to 200,000 house flies (Musca doviestica L.) were released in the treatment area. Intensive daily insecticide applications were made in the treatment area starting July 15, and continued for 10 days. A sharp drop natural populations took place in the treatment area following the first insecticide application. The same sharp drop did not occur in the control area. During the treatment period mosquito light trap collections showed an average daily reduction of 90%, adult mosquito landing counts 81%, mite population 76%, and general sweep collections 94%. The introduced house flies were difficult to bring under control and more studies along these lines are needed. After insecticiding stopped mosquitoes moved back into the area quickly, light-trap collections went up sharply within 48 hours. The mite and general insect populations showed no signs of a buildup during the week after insecticiding stopped.