Progress 03/31/08 to 03/30/13
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The objective of the cooperative effort between the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University (Rutgers University) and the ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit (MFRU) is to demonstrate an effective strategy for the area-wide control of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) while demonstrating the public health importance and socio-economic benefits of the area-wide control approach. The technologies developed, implemented and found effective in New Jersey will be extended to end-users responsible for controlling the Ae. albopictus mosquito across the U.S. Rutgers University has a long and revered tradition in the development of mosquito management and control strategies in the northeastern part of the country. Similarly, the MFRU has a long history in the development of novel strategies and approaches for surveying, controlling and protecting people from nuisance mosquitoes as well as those that transmit pathogens. Economists from Brandeis University in Massachusetts will guide and direct the studies of the benefits of the area-wide program. Together, these three institutions will utilize their expertise and human resources to collaborate and focus on a mosquito species that causes severe problems for residents of many areas of the U.S. Approach (from AD-416): Rutgers University will establish collaborations with the organized mosquito control programs in Mercer and Monmouth Counties, recognized as two of the best programs in New Jersey. Localities infested with Ae. albopictus will be identified and used as field study sites in which to implement or improve existing strategies and develop new ones. This work directly relates to inhouse objective 1. Disseminate and obtain feedback about surveillance and control strategies developed for area- wide control of Aedes albopictus, 2. Disseminate and obtain feedback from recent economic analyses and provide a user friendly costing tool for vector control managers developed by the area-wide project, and 3. Complete transfer of novel entomological and economic strategies to end- users. FY2012 included activities being developed in several locations in NJ and Florida. Fieldwork (surveillance and control) was initiated and terminated as per established protocols and in some cases such as in Florida, progressed throughout the �winter�. The main objectives for 2012 and 2013 were to (1) summarize, analyze and publish results as well as develop detailed Standard Operating Procedures to be made available to other mosquito control programs; (2) test of Standard Operational Procedures by collaborating mosquito control programs in NJ and other states besides NJ; (3) understand the mechanisms underlying the observed marked differences in success between urban and suburban sites by performing extensive comparative analysis of larval development in cryptic habitats, developing �common garden� experiments, and using newly developed molecular tools; (4) finish the extensive comparative analysis of insecticide resistance in U.S. populations of Aedes albopictus. Overall, this 5-year project revealed that populations of Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, in the U.S. are highly associated with human dwellings and use humans as the predominant source of blood. As a result they have a considerable impact on quality of life, as measured by our economist colleagues at Brandeis University. Indeed, we found that childhood activity outdoors increases significantly in areas where our proposed control measures have been implemented. Our work also revealed that populations of Ae. albopictus are locally adapted and highly dependent on local conditions of heat and humidity. As a result, the guidelines we developed for control of this pest need to be fine- tuned locally with the aid of a degree-day model and tandem broadcast applications of larvicides and adulticides. As of this time, U.S. populations are susceptible to most classes of insecticides although our analysis revealed resistance to both DDT and malathion (an organochlorine and organophosphate, respectively). We found also that education, especially active engagement, is a critical tool towards recruiting local residents in performing source reduction as well as allowing access of mosquito control personnel to private residences (where most of the immature development occurs).
Impacts
(N/A)
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The objective of the cooperative effort between the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University (Rutgers University) and the ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit (MFRU) is to demonstrate an effective strategy for the area-wide control of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) while demonstrating the public health importance and socio-economic benefits of the area-wide control approach. The technologies developed, implemented and found effective in New Jersey will be extended to end-users responsible for controlling the Ae. albopictus mosquito across the U.S. Rutgers University has a long and revered tradition in the development of mosquito management and control strategies in the northeastern part of the country. Similarly, the MFRU has a long history in the development of novel strategies and approaches for surveying, controlling and protecting people from nuisance mosquitoes as well as those that transmit pathogens. Economists from Brandeis University in Massachusetts will guide and direct the studies of the benefits of the area-wide program. Together, these three institutions will utilize their expertise and human resources to collaborate and focus on a mosquito species that causes severe problems for residents of many areas of the U.S. Approach (from AD-416): Rutgers University will establish collaborations with the organized mosquito control programs in Mercer and Monmouth Counties, recognized as two of the best programs in New Jersey. Localities infested with Ae. albopictus will be identified and used as field study sites in which to implement or improve existing strategies and develop new ones. This research relates to Objective 1 of the in-house project (1) "Demonstrate a strategy for area-wide Aedes albopictus control; (2) demonstrate the public health importance and socio-economic benefits of area-wide mosquito control; and (3) transfer the strategy to end-users of the technology." FY2011 activities at 6 sites in Mercer and Monmouth Counties, NJ ended in November 2011 when no traps had Asian Tiger mosquitoes (ATM). A 50%- 60% reduction in adult ATM was achieved in the Full Intervention sites in both counties. Area-wide applications of pyriproxyfen had a significant effect on adult ATM and egg production that were, however, equivalent to Bti. The objectives for 2012 were primarily to (1) test definitively the effect of early season larvicide applications on ATM adult populations; (2) test if differences in the way ATM populations in urban and suburban New Jersey react to area-wide control reflect differences of larval production sites � specifically if Mercer County ATM populations explore more open containers while Monmouth County ATM populations explore cryptic habitats such as catch basins and rain gutter flexi-tubes; (3) produce a series of Standard Operating Procedures to be provided to other mosquito control programs interested in controlling ATM; (4) engage a series of Mosquito Control programs across the U.S. to test the strategies developed in the Area-wide ATM program. The weather patterns in New Jersey each year of the ATM project have been considerably different and record breaking. In 2011 we had very warm weather from spring to fall, and an especially wet summer, with an unusual hurricane with record rains at the end of August (Figure 2). In 2012 we experienced an unprecedented warm winter and spring leading to exceptionally high populations of ATM in Monmouth County, as predicted by the temperature model we are developing. Also, as predicted ATM populations in inner city Trenton, very urban, have been depressed. The weather has proven to be a challenge, especially for surveillance, although it has also created unprecedented opportunities considering the consistent and large dataset we have now accumulated.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of the cooperative effort between the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University (Rutgers University) and the ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit (MFRU) is to demonstrate an effective strategy for the area-wide control of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) while demonstrating the public health importance and socio-economic benefits of the area-wide control approach. The technologies developed, implemented and found effective in New Jersey will be extended to end-users responsible for controlling the Ae. albopictus mosquito across the U.S. Rutgers University has a long and revered tradition in the development of mosquito management and control strategies in the northeastern part of the country. Similarly, the MFRU has a long history in the development of novel strategies and approaches for surveying, controlling and protecting people from nuisance mosquitoes as well as those that transmit pathogens. Economists from Brandeis University in Massachusetts will guide and direct the studies of the benefits of the area-wide program. Together, these three institutions will utilize their expertise and human resources to collaborate and focus on a mosquito species that causes severe problems for residents of many areas of the U.S. Approach (from AD-416) Rutgers University will establish collaborations with the organized mosquito control programs in Mercer and Monmouth Counties, recognized as two of the best programs in New Jersey. Localities infested with Ae. albopictus will be identified and used as field study sites in which to implement or improve existing strategies and develop new ones. This project is related to Objective 5 of the in-house project - Determine chemical and other cues associated with regulation and orientation of specific behaviors by Aedes albopictus, Culex pipiens group species/hybrids, and other biting arthropods that can be applied to the solution of operational surveillance and control problems. A summary of project progress in calendar year 2010 and planned activities for calendar year 2011 were presented by Rutgers and Brandeis team members to ARS personnel and the Project Evaluation Team at an annual program review held in January 2011 at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. In 2010, a 50%-60% reduction in adult Asian Tiger mosquito (ATM) abundance was achieved in the Full Intervention sites in both Mercer and Monmouth Counties; with a maximum 75% reduction in Monmouth County. Backpack applications of pyriproxyfen insecticide in 10% of the sites had no effect on adult ATM. Active educational efforts reduced the number of containers with immature mosquitoes in backyards but these efforts need to be reinforced. In 2011, surveillance efforts began in May with weekly trapping of adults, egg counts and species identification from ovitraps. The 2011 control efforts began in April and focused on area-wide application of larvicides guided by a degree-day model. The Full Intervention and Control sites were switched in Monmouth County to measure cumulative effects of prior source reduction activities and to evaluate the degree-day, area-wide larvicide strategy. No parcel- to-parcel source reduction or larviciding was conducted. In July, a �hot- spot� treatment procedure using traps; treatment of larval habitats with spinosad (an insect growth regulator), source reduction, and removal of excess vegetation; and hand held ultra low volume spraying occurred in the Full Intervention site in Mercer County. An effort began to expand the project from the 2 original New Jersey counties to 2 �new� sites in Mercer and Monmouth Counties, 2-4 sites in 3 counties in Pennsylvania, 2 counties in Louisiana and Virginia, and 1 county in Florida. Prior to detection of ATM activity, sites were surveyed with 20-25 ovitraps. Egg papers were sent to Rutgers for processing to find pairs of sites with similar ATM dynamics where control activities might occur in 2012. Various aspects of these results were presented and discussed at the annual meetings of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in Atlanta, GA (November 2010) and the American Mosquito Control Association in Anaheim, CA (March, 2011). Progress was monitored during the period of Asian tiger mosquito activity. Project activities were monitored via weekly e-mail updates of field activities and results, and periodic conference calls between team members and ARS staff.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of the cooperative effort between the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University (Rutgers University) and the ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit (MFRU) is to demonstrate an effective strategy for the area-wide control of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) while demonstrating the public health importance and socio-economic benefits of the area-wide control approach. The technologies developed, implemented and found effective in New Jersey will be extended to end-users responsible for controlling the Ae. albopictus mosquito across the U.S. Rutgers University has a long and revered tradition in the development of mosquito management and control strategies in the northeastern part of the country. Similarly, the MFRU has a long history in the development of novel strategies and approaches for surveying, controlling and protecting people from nuisance mosquitoes as well as those that transmit pathogens. Economists from Brandeis University in Massachusetts will guide and direct the studies of the benefits of the area-wide program. Together, these three institutions will utilize their expertise and human resources to collaborate and focus on a mosquito species that causes severe problems for residents of many areas of the U.S. Approach (from AD-416) Rutgers University will establish collaborations with the organized mosquito control programs in Mercer and Monmouth Counties, recognized as two of the best programs in New Jersey. Localities infested with Ae. albopictus will be identified and used as field study sites in which to implement or improve existing strategies and develop new ones. This research project relates to inhouse objective: Demonstrate a strategy for areawide Aedes albopictus control. 2009 field activities at 6 sites chosen after the 2008 mosquito season terminated in November 2009 after the number of Asian Tiger Mosquitoes (ATM) collected in the BGS traps and ovitraps became zero in both Mercer and Monmouth County. Based on 2009 experience, including several laboratory and field trials with promising insecticides, the CORE team developed a protocol for 2010. The preliminary results were discussed in November 2009 at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in Washington, DC. Ensuing discussions led to a revised protocol that was presented to the Project Evaluation Team at a meeting in February 2010 at Rutgers University. The protocol was approved in general and details were evaluated/optimized. 2010 control activities began in April 2010, in both counties when source reduction larviciding was initiated. Surveillance activities included weekly trapping of adults with BGS traps, egg counts and species identification from ovitraps in all plots, and 50 house container surveys (Breteau index) in full intervention and control plots. The early season weeks of April 29 and April 30 were chosen for initiation of surveillance activities for Monmouth and Mercer Counties, respectively, so we could monitor the entire season of ATM activity. Mosquito surveillance continued until the season's end. Backpack pyriproxyfen applications were made to selected parcels in the pyriproxifen and experimental sites in Mercer on May 6 and 7 totaling no more than 10 acres. Pyriproxyfen autodissemination stations (�tiger tubes�) were designed, constructed, and deployed in full intervention plot and �tiger tube only� plot during the last week of July 2010 in Monmouth County. The tiger tubes act on the concept that adult mosquitoes are attracted to the oviposition stations containing suitable larval medium and oviposition substrate. When females enter the tiger tubes to rest and oviposit, they contact a pesticide (the insect growth regulator, pyriproxyfen, lethal to mosquitoes in very small concentrations) which they pick up on their tarsi from the treated oviposition substrate and later distribute to other cryptic, untreated, larval habitats. In this manner, the �skip-ovipostion� behavior of the mosquito is exploited to distribute and apply pesticide to nearby larval habitats. From October to April 2009/2010, several laboratory experiments were developed to examine effects of day-length, container type and temperature on female oviposition behavior. iButtons (Portable iButton stations) were also deployedin small protected stations to continuously monitor (every 30 min) temperature and relative humidity throughout the entire winter season; these units were in place throughout the active ATM. A rapid assay for identification of ATM blood meals was developed. Supporting research also includes the development of quantitative genetic identification of eggs, baseline studies of insecticide resistance, and development of population genetic markers for the ATM. From an organizational standpoint, a showcase website was developed.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of the cooperative effort between the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University (Rutgers University) and the ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit (MFRU) is to demonstrate an effective strategy for the area-wide control of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) while demonstrating the public health importance and socio-economic benefits of the area-wide control approach. The technologies developed, implemented and found effective in New Jersey will be extended to end-users responsible for controlling the Ae. albopictus mosquito across the U.S. Rutgers University has a long and revered tradition in the development of mosquito management and control strategies in the northeastern part of the country. Similarly, the MFRU has a long history in the development of novel strategies and approaches for surveying, controlling and protecting people from nuisance mosquitoes as well as those that transmit pathogens. Economists from Brandeis University in Massachusetts will guide and direct the studies of the benefits of the area-wide program. Together, these three institutions will utilize their expertise and human resources to collaborate and focus on a mosquito species that causes severe problems for residents of many areas of the U.S. Approach (from AD-416) Rutgers University will establish collaborations with the organized mosquito control programs in Mercer and Monmouth Counties, recognized as two of the best programs in New Jersey. Localities infested with Ae. albopictus will be identified and used as field study sites in which to implement or improve existing strategies and develop new ones. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This project relates to the in-house project Objective 1: Demonstrate a strategy for area-wide Aedes albopictus control; and Objective 2: Demonstrate the public health importance and socio-economic benefits of area-wide mosquito control. This was the second year of the Areawide Pest Management (AWPM) Program for the Asian Tiger Mosquito (ATM). During the 2008 mosquito season, field surveys of the ATM were conducted at nine sites through the end of October until ATMs were no longer present in BGS traps in both Mercer and Monmouth Counties. At that time, three sites (a total of six), each with approximately 1,000 residences, were selected in each county for future studies. Each group of three sites was chosen based on equivalent socioeconomic parameters (i.e., plot size and average family income), and statistically indistinguishable numbers of adult ATM throughout the summer of 2008. The three sites were randomly assigned as areas to receive a full intervention or an educational intervention, or serve as an untreated �control� area. Based on field experience acquired in 2008, including several laboratory and field trials with promising insecticides, the Core team drafted a protocol for Fiscal Year 2009. The protocol was presented to the Project Evaluation Team (from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tulane University, the University of Florida and the USDA ARS) at a project review meeting held in February 2009 at Rutgers University. The protocol was discussed with the Evaluation Team, the Core team including the ARS Leader of National Program 104, and the ATM project staff. After evaluation and optimization, the protocol was approved. In April 2009, field activities were begun when source reduction and educational campaigns were initiated in Mercer and in Monmouth Counties. ATM surveillance activities were initiated in mid-May and included weekly trapping of adults with BGS traps, egg counts and species identification from ovitraps, 50-house container surveys (Breteau index), and bi-weekly counts of artificial containers with water or with water and mosquito larvae that were present near the ovitraps. The second and third weeks of May were chosen for initiation of surveillance activities in Mercer and Monmouth Counties in order to monitor the entire season of ATM activity. The number of females being collected in late-July increased and there was a preliminary 50% reduction in numbers of ATMs between the full intervention site and the untreated �control� site. A reinvasion analysis examining the spatial order and rates of re-occurrence of ATM eggs is also being conducted, as are blood meal analyses, height of oviposition site, and effects of day- length and container type on female oviposition behavior. Supporting research includes the development of quantitative genetic identification of eggs, baseline studies of insecticide resistance, and development of population genetic markers for the ATM. Protocols are also being developed for the initiation of adulticiding, and the potential use of residual insecticides in 2010. Progress was monitored during the year with several telephonic meetings held with the Core Team.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of the cooperative effort between the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University (Rutgers University) and the ARS Mosquito and Fly Research Unit (MFRU) is to demonstrate an effective strategy for the area-wide control of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) while demonstrating the public health importance and socio-economic benefits of the area-wide control approach. The technologies developed, implemented and found effective in New Jersey will be extended to end-users responsible for controlling the Ae. albopictus mosquito across the U.S. Rutgers University has a long and revered tradition in the development of mosquito management and control strategies in the northeastern part of the country. Similarly, the MFRU has a long history in the development of novel strategies and approaches for surveying, controlling and protecting people from nuisance mosquitoes as well as those that transmit pathogens. Economists from Brandeis University in Massachusetts will guide and direct the studies of the benefits of the area-wide program. Together, these three institutions will utilize their expertise and human resources to collaborate and focus on a mosquito species that causes severe problems for residents of many areas of the U.S. Approach (from AD-416) Rutgers University will establish collaborations with the organized mosquito control programs in Mercer and Monmouth Counties, recognized as two of the best programs in New Jersey. Localities infested with Ae. albopictus will be identified and used as field study sites in which to implement or improve existing strategies and develop new ones. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This project relates to the in-house project Objective 1: Demonstrate a strategy for area-wide Aedes albopictus control; and Objective 2: Demonstrate the public health importance and socio-economic benefits of area-wide mosquito control. This was the first year of the Areawide Pest Management (AWPM) Program for the Asian Tiger Mosquito. During this year, a Core Team was created, an SCA was established with the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University, and meetings were held with project participants (including industry partners). ARS staff from National Program 104 and the Mosquito and Fly Research Unit met with project participants and visited potential field sites in Mercer and Monmouth Counties along with the leaders of the mosquito control programs in those two counties. Field and laboratory studies were initiated at Rutgers and in the two counties. A program manager was recruited and an electronic, central repository with information on a series of subprojects was created. An Annual Advisory Team was established and participated in a teleconference with participation of program participants to describe and discuss the AWPM. Progress was monitored during the year with several telephonic meetings held with the Core Team.
Impacts
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