Adulticidal Efficacy and Sublethal Effects of Metofluthrin in Residual Insecticide Blends Against Wild Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Abstract Field development for optimizing the use patterns of spatial repellents are an ongoing research need. To investigate volatile pyrethroids in blends containing multiple active ingredients, metofluthrin was formulated into a vegetation spray for application to foliage and mosquito harborage. Metofluthrin was compared by itself and in combination with Sector (permethrin), Hyperion (sumithrin), Onslaught Fast Cap (s-fenvalerate, prallethrin), and against a benchmark for comparison, OneGuard (λ-cyhalothrin, prallethrin, pyriproxyfen). Field sites with established Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) populations were allocated as control and treatment and surveilled with both adult traps and oviposition cups before and after treatment. Adult mosquito reductions were consistently higher over 4 wk in the combination treatments and were comparable to OneGuard. In contrast, efficacy provided by metofluthrin alone or the standalone existing product (Sector, Hyperion, Onslaught) by were consistently less effective than OneGuard and the comparative blends. Additionally, poorly melanized and collapsing eggs were identified from mosquito adults collected at treated field sites. A 20–50% significant decrease in nonviable mosquito eggs, a 50% or more reduction in total eggs and an 80% or more reduction in adult mosquitoes collected at the local field sites was demonstrated across all metofluthrin-containing treatments. Metofluthrin applications both supplemented the adulticidal control of the selected pyrethroid-containing products and provided significant reduction in egg laying frequency and viability during monitoring of areas adjacent to the treated vegetation. Metofluthrin, and possibly other volatile ingredients, appears to have complex interactions for mosquito control in the field and could be unique as a supporting ingredient to other insecticides.