Mosquitoes are the single most important taxon of arthropods affecting human health globally, and container-inhabiting Aedes are important vectors of arthropod-borne viruses. Desiccation-resistant eggs of container Aedes have facilitated their invasion into new areas, primarily through transportation via the international trade in used tires. The public health threat from an introduced exotic species into a new area is imminent, and proactive measures are needed to identify significant vectors before onset of epidemic disease. In many cases, vector control is the only means to combat exotic diseases. Accurate identification of vectors is crucial to initiate aggressive control measures; however, many vector control personnel are not properly trained to identify introduced species in new geographic areas. We provide updated geographical ranges and a rapid identification guide with detailed larval photographs of the most common container-inhabiting Aedes in North America. Our key includes 5 native species (Aedes atropalpus, Ae. epactius, Ae. hendersoni, Ae. sierrensis, Ae. triseriatus) and 3 invasive species (Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. japonicus).

Ecological changes associated with anthropogenic ecosystem disturbances can influence human risk of exposure to malaria and other vector-borne infectious diseases. This study in Mwea, Kenya, investigated the pattern of insecticide use in irrigated and nonirrigated agroecosystems and association with the density, survival, and blood-feeding behavior of the malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis. The parity rates of adult An. arabiensis from randomly selected houses were determined by examining their ovaries for tracheal distension, and polymerase chain reaction was used to identify the host blood meals. In addition, structured questionnaires were used to generate data on insecticide use. Anopheles arabiensis densities were highest in irrigated rice agroecosystems, intermediate in irrigated French beans agroecosystems, and lowest in the nonirrigated agroecosystem. Anopheles arabiensis adult survivorship was significantly lower in irrigated rice agroecosystems than in irrigated French beans agroecosystems. The human blood index (HBI) was significantly higher in the nonirrigated agroecosystem compared to irrigated agroecosystems. Moreover, there was marked variation in HBI among villages in irrigated agroecosystems with significantly lower HBI in Kangichiri and Mathangauta compared to Kiuria, Karima, and Kangai. The proportion of mosquitoes with mixed blood meals varied among villages ranging from 0.25 in Kangichiri to 0.83 in Kiuria. Sumithion, dimethoate, and alpha cypermethrin were the most commonly used insecticides. The 1st was used mostly in irrigated rice agroecosystems, and the last 2 were used mostly in irrigated French beans agroecosystems. These findings indicate that agricultural practices may influence the ecology and behavior of malaria vectors and ultimately the risk of malaria transmission.

The resting behavior of Aedes albopictus was evaluated by aspirating diurnal resting mosquitoes from common landscape vegetation in residential communities in St. Augustine, FL. Energy reserves of the resting mosquitoes were analyzed to determine if there was a correlation between mosquito resting habitat and energy accumulation. Six species of plants were selected and 9 collections of resting mosquitoes were aspirated from each plant using a modified John W. Hock backpack aspirator during June and July 2012. Eight mosquito species were collected, with Ae. albopictus representing 74% of the overall collection. The number of Ae. albopictus collected varied significantly with the species of vegetation. When comparing the vegetation and abundance of resting mosquitoes, the highest percentages of Ae. albopictus were collected resting on Ruellia brittoniana (Mexican petunia), Asplenium platyneuron (fern), Gibasis geniculate (Tahitian bridal veil), followed by Plumba goauriculata (plumbago), Setcreasea pallida (purple heart), and Hibiscus tiliaceus (hibiscus). There were significant differences in lipid and glycogen accumulation based on type of vegetation Ae. albopictus was found resting in. Resting mosquitoes' sugar reserves were not influenced by species of vegetation. However, there was an overall correlation between vegetation that serves as a resting habitat and energy reserve accumulation. The results of our study demonstrate the potential to target specific vegetation for control of diurnal resting mosquitoes.

In the northern suburbs of Chicago, stormwater catch basins are the primary source of vector mosquitoes targeted by the local mosquito abatement district, and therefore effective catch basin larvicides are needed. From June to September 2011, Natular™ XRT was applied at label rate to a cluster of 20 catch basins and compared to a cluster of 20 untreated basins all within a small 0.21 km² area of catch basins known historically to have high levels of mosquitoes. All monitored basins held immature stages of mosquitoes at least once; however, significantly fewer immatures overall were observed from Natular-treated basins than in untreated basins during 14 wk of monitoring. During the study a portion of Natular-treated catch basins was cleaned as part of scheduled maintenance, and this appeared to remove both the larvicide and any control effects. Better timing of catch basin maintenance events is suggested, particularly if, as the results of this study suggest, a single larvicide treatment may be effective for an entire season.

The present study aims to investigate the susceptibility status of Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Cx. vishnui collected from a pig farm in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor, toward 11 insecticides representing the classes of organochlorines, carbamates, organophosphates, and pyrethroids. The results of a World Health Organization adult mosquito bioassay revealed that Ae. albopictus, Cx. quinquefasciatus, and Cx. vishnui exhibited different susceptibility toward various insecticides. Overall, pyrethroids were able to induce rapid knockdown for all test mosquito species. The pyrethroids lambdacyhalothrin and etofenprox were able to cause high mortality (>80%) of all 3 species. The findings of the present study will benefit local authorities in selecting appropriate dosage of insecticides to be used in mosquito control in this area.

The 23rd Annual Latin American Symposium presented by the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) was held as part of the 79th Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, NJ, in February 2013. The principal objective, as for the previous 22 symposia, was to promote participation in the AMCA by vector control specialists, public health workers, and academicians from Latin America. This publication includes summaries of 49 presentations that were given orally in Spanish or presented as posters by participants from Colombia, Mexico, and the USA. Topics addressed in the symposium included: surveillance, ecology, chemical and biological control, and insecticide resistance associated with Aedes aegypti; surveillance and control of Anopheles vectors of malaria; and studies of dengue and West Nile viruses, Chagas disease, and Lutzomyia.

A new species belonging to the new Ototomoensis Group, Orthopodomyia ototomoensis Huang and Rueda, is described from Ototomo, Cameroon. Diagnostic features for separating members of Nkolbissonensis Group and Ototomoensis Group from other Orthopodomyia groups are provided. Two supplemental keys are presented: “A Pictorial Key to the Species of the Genus Orthopodomyia Ototomoensis Group in the Afrotropical Region (Diptera: Culicidae)” and “A Pictorial Key to the Species of the Genus Orthopodomyia Nkolbissonensis Group in the Afrotropical Region (Diptera: Culicidae).”

A mosquito faunal survey was conducted from October 2010 to February 2011 in the municipal parks of São Paulo City, Brazil. A total of 7,015 specimens of 53 taxonomic categories grouped into 12 genera (Aedes, Anopheles, Coquilletidia, Culex, Limatus, Lutzia, Mansonia, Psorophora, Toxorhynchites, Trichoprosopon, Uranotaenia, and Wyeomyia) were collected. The largest and most peripheral parks showed greater species richness compared to smaller and more centralized parks.

Catch basins are a common breeding site for mosquito larvae in urban areas. The arrival in Spain of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has turned catch basins into a challenging public health issue in some areas such as the Baix Llobregat region, where more than 135,000 units are treated per year in a large-scale application program. Although biorational larvicides are used, modern formulations providing longer efficacy periods could lead to manpower savings. Laboratory indoor trials are presented on the formulation VBC60035 (Vectomax™ FG), which is under registration in Spain. Indoor microcosms simulating real catch basins were treated and recolonized weekly using insectary-reared Ae. albopictus larvae. The trial took place over 2 seasons in the same water at dosages of 10, 50, and 577 kg/ha. At all 3 concentrations, the efficiency was close to 100% for up to 345 days posttreatment with 14.1% mean mortality in the control. Field factors including flushing, bacterial degradation, and toxic effluents in the drainage pools are discussed as limitations of indoor tests.

Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, was 1st detected in Spain in 2004 and since then has spread along the Mediterranean coast. New adulticiding strategies are being tested to enhance control of the species. The residual effect of applications of 2 formulations containing deltamethrin over vegetation was evaluated in bioassay tests for 34 days. Hedera helix plants were treated with K-othrine SC25® (deltamethrin 2.56% SC) and Aqua K-othrine® (deltamethrin 2.03% EW). Bioassays consisted of exposing batches of Ae. albopictus females to treated plants. Significant mortality (>80%) for up to 12 days was obtained with Aqua K-othrine, and for up to 5 days using K-othrine SC25. Results show that the type of formulation has an impact on the residual effect of deltamethrin against Ae.albopictus. This validates the strategy of applying pyrethroid insecticides to vegetal barriers for the control of this species, as carried out in several countries.

Field efficacy trials comparing 2 formulations of deet against mosquitoes in Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia were conducted in February 2009. A formulation containing 35% deet in a gel (Australian Defence Force deet) provided >95% protection for 3 h, while a formulation containing 40% deet in ethanol (Bushman) in a spray applicator provided >95% for 6 h. A user acceptability study showed that 82% of soldiers using the Bushman formulation during contingency operations for 14–28 days in Timor–Leste would recommend this formulation to others and believed that the formulation provided protection against mosquitoes.

We describe an inexpensive autocidal ovitrap for Aedes aegypti that uses cross-linked polyacrylamide (PAM) gel as the oviposition substrate. Aedes aegypti females readily laid eggs on PAM gel that had been hydrated with either hay infusion or water. Aedes aegypti larvae that hatched from their eggs desiccated on the surface of the PAM gel. We tested the effects of gel hydration, texture, and type of attractant on trap performance, and compared the capture rates of standard ovitraps with those of PAM gel ovitraps in the field. The results showed that the number of eggs did not vary over a range of gel hydration levels (40–100%) and that more eggs were recovered from ovitraps containing coarse gel than from those containing homogenized gel. The PAM gel hydrated with hay infusion was more attractive to gravid female mosquitoes than gel hydrated with water. In the field, the number of eggs recovered from autocidal ovitraps with PAM gel was similar to that recovered from standard ovitraps with hay infusion.

We determined the behavioral response of Aedes aegypti females to volatile compounds collected in indoor primary school classrooms. Volatiles were collected from classrooms from 0800 through 1030 h and 1130 through 1400 h in urban and rural schools in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. Female responses to volatiles were assessed in a Y-tube olfactometer. Chemical compounds were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometer analysis. Volatiles from both schools were attractive when compared against their control. When such volatiles were compared, those from the rural school were more attractive than the ones from the urban school. Chromatographic profiles were similar between schools; however, the rural school showed more compounds. Attraction of Ae. aegypti females toward volatiles of primary school classrooms might increase dengue transmission probabilities in those sites.

DUET™ ultra-low volume (ULV) (1% parllethrin, 5% sumithrin) and Aqualuer® ULV (20.6% permethrin), applied neat, diluted with mineral oil, and diluted with diesel oil by a truck-mounted thermal fogger (LongRay TS-95 model) was evaluated in the field against caged Aedes albopictus adults. The application of Aqualuer ULV was significantly more effective than DUET ULV (t  =  12.1, df  =  5, P < 0.001) without dilution. There were no significant differences between the applications of DUET ULV or Aqualuer ULV diluted 1∶3 with mineral oil (t  =  0.662, df  =  5, P  =  0.518) or with 1∶3 of diesel oil (t  =  1.19, df  =  5, P  =  0.251). The solvents (mineral oil and diesel oil) to dilute DUET and Aqualuer and sprayed by the truck-mounted thermal fogger did not result in significant differences in the mortalities of caged Ae. albopictus.

We conducted an open-field ultra-low volume efficacy bioassay using a water-based formulation AquaDuet™ (prallethrin [1%], sumithrin [5%], and piperonly butoxide [5%]) applied from a truck-mounted cold aerosol sprayer. The adulticide was applied at 90.6 ml/ha (1.23 oz/acre) and 3 replicated treatments were performed using caged Aedes albopictus collected from local wild populations. Rotating impingers and mosquito cages were placed in 3 rows stationed at 30.5 m (100 ft), 61.0 (200 ft), and 91.4 (300 ft) downwind of the spray vehicle. Initial knockdown was 95.6%, with overall mortality >99% across all distances, despite low wind conditions. Volume median diameter (Dv_0.5) and droplet density were 17.4 µm and 110.5 mm², respectively. Our open-field studies against caged Ae. albopictus demonstrate that a water-based adulticide formulation is just as efficacious as traditional oil-based formulations.