Recipient Organization
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
820 CHESTNUT ST
JEFFERSON CITY,MO 651023537
Performing Department
AGRICULTURE
Non Technical Summary
Mosquito infestation has been identified as a major issue to residents of many counties in the Bootheel area of southeast Missouri.The presence of mosquitoes in these rural counties has both outdoor and health implications. This project intends to evaluate an integrated control strategy involving a mixed formulation of biological agents and a limited use of chemical based pesticide, as a possible approach to address this problem. Major tasks to be executed during the study include: mosquito density estimation and distribution profile within the delineated area, production of a mosquito distribution map for the delineated area, and field evaluation of a combined formula of biological agents and a chemical pesticide for mosquito control. Other tasks to be executed include: production and formulation of mixed formulation of biological agents using food wastes as low cost substrate, and laboratory based bioassay of the produced formulation including comparison to
commercial formulations.
Animal Health Component
70%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
70%
Developmental
30%
Goals / Objectives
The project objectives are: (i) To determine the extent, severity, and distribution pattern of mosquito infestation in selected cities within New Madrid County of the Bootheel region (ii) To develop a map of mosquito density pattern within the delineated area (iii) Evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated control strategy based mainly on a combined formulation of biological agents Bacillus sphaericus and Bacillus thuringiensis, and a minimal use of chemical pesticides. (iv) To develop a low cost mixed formulation of Bacillus sphaericus & Bacillus thuringiensis using food wastes
Project Methods
The project will be executed under 3 major tasks namely: (A) Mosquito density estimation and distribution profiling (B) production of low cost biological formula (C) evaluation of biological formula for mosquito control. Specific activities under task A include interviews with local population using questionnaire to verify their own assessment of mosquito infestation as a priority issue, extensive survey of major mosquito breeding sites within the delineated areas, and comprehensive evaluation of mosquito species distribution and density within the delineated areas. Specific activities under task B include evaluation of different food digestion strategies, optimization of the digested food waste for production of both Bacillus sphaericus and Bacillus thuringiensis, pilot scale production of biological agents, and formulation of the bio-control agents. Specific activities under task C include laboratory bioassay using mosquito larvae, and field evaluation of the
developed formula. The execution of the above tasks will involve specific laboratory and field protocols. Development and production of the biological agents for mosquito control shall be carried out in shake flasks and in a 7-liter and 50-liter medium scale and pilot scale bioreactor, respectively. Both media and process optimization studies will be carried out. Laboratory analysis of the activity of the bio-pesticide will be carried out using bioassay against randomly selected 3rd to early 4th instar mosquito larvae. The efficacy of the formulations will be tested against the larvae of Aedes aegypti (B. thuringiensis) and Culex quinquefasciatus (B. sphaericus). The concentration of the toxin formula that will kill 50% of the larvae population (LC50) will be used as the measure of the death response of the larvae population. Formulation studies, especially UV sensitivity will be carried out. If UV sensitivity is established, the following protective strategies will be evaluated: the
use of oil-soluble sunscreens with oil-carriers, the use of oil-water emulsions, and the use of water-soluble absorbers or blockers with water carriers or encapsulation. Studies involving the use of food wastes, as substrates, will entail hydrolyzing the food wastes, filtering to remove suspended particles, and using the processed food wastes as substrates for the growth of the bacteria. Field evaluation studies will be carried out in five cities in New Madrid County including: New Madrid, Howardville, Lilibourn, North Lilibourn and Marston. Mosquito breeding sites will be determined by visual inspection of the delineated sites. Survey of perception of mosquito as a problem will be carried out by face-to-face interview assisted by questionnaires. Results obtained will be analyzed by ANOVA using standard statistical programs. Estimation of the mosquito population density will be carried out using the Center for Disease Control (CDC) mosquito traps. The mosquito density data generated
will be used to produce mosquito density distribution map using a Global Positioning System. Spraying of the biological agents will be carried out using back positioned, truck conveyed, and aerial sprayers.