Improved monitoring and potential control for the Asian Tiger mosquito
Aedes albopictus, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito, flourishes in a variety of habitats including residential and agricultural areas. It is present on 6 of the world’s 7 continents and is a competent vector of at least 22 different arboviruses including all 4 serotypes of dengue. Current control efforts for Aedes albopictus include source reduction of larval habitats, surface films, larviciding, residual adulticide applications and ultra low volume (ULV) sprays. Despite these varying methods of control, the range and density of Aedes albopictus has continued to grow. Aedes albopictus is also highly adapted to life around humans and will readily oviposit in containers near human activity such as barrels, buckets, birdbaths, rain gutters, water troughs and others. The difficulty of controlling this mosquito along with its global distribution, anthropophilic nature, and vector competency makes it a species of interest for control.
During the summer of 2014, a surveillance and control research program was initiated targeting Aedes albopictus populations within the premises of the American Farm School (AFS) in Thessaloniki, Greece, a 45-ha diverse field environment consisting of 2 distinct zones: agricultural and residential.This field site is similar to a typical Greek ruralcity where agricultural and residentialpractices co-exist…..
This is an extract of the full article published in International Pest Control – July/August 2015 issue.
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Author: Casey Parker*
*Graduate Student, University of Florida,Entomology & Nematology. caseyparker@ufl.edu
Category: Public health, Special features
