The effect of pyriproxyfen as a "population growth regulator" against Aedes albopictus under semi-field conditions

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 2;8(7):e67045. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067045. Print 2013.

Abstract

An insect growth regulator, pyriproxyfen, has been used for the control of a range of pest insects, including mosquitoes. Pyriproxyfen is effective in inhibiting adult emergence and sterilizing adult females. The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), is an important vector of dengue and chikungunya, and is expanding its distribution throughout Europe and the Americas. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of pyriproxyfen-treated bed nets on population growth of Ae. albopictus under semi-field conditions, using 6 small microcosms. We created microcosms containing breeding sites to simulate the natural ecosystem of vector mosquito and installing miniature bed net treated with 350 mg/m(2) pyriproxyfen in Experiment I and 35 mg/m(2) in Experiment II. For each experiment, we also established microcosms installing untreated polyethylene net (untreated control). The installing nets were provided with artificially torn holes, to simulate damage and allow mosquitoes to penetrate. We released 100 pairs of Ae. albopictus into each microcosm, and allowed them to feed on a mouse under the bed nets at approximately 1-week intervals. In comparison with the untreated control microcosms, the number of eggs laid by the released adults in the pyriproxyfen-treated microcosms was significantly lower in both Experiment I and II. Moreover, egg hatchability was significantly suppressed and pupal mortality was increased. Our results indicate that tarsal contact with pyriproxyfen has been shown to suppress egg production and hatchability in adult females and the auto-dissemination of pyriproxyfen into larval breeding sites by adult mosquitoes, through contact with pyriproxyfen-treated polyethylene bed nets, may suppress the mosquito population density.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / drug effects*
  • Aedes / physiology
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Insecticides / toxicity*
  • Larva / drug effects
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mosquito Control / methods
  • Mosquito Nets / statistics & numerical data
  • Population Dynamics
  • Pupa / drug effects
  • Pupa / growth & development
  • Pyridines / toxicity*
  • Reproduction / drug effects*
  • Zygote / drug effects*

Substances

  • Insecticides
  • Pyridines
  • pyriproxyfen

Grants and funding

The study was funded by the Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC), a Product Development Partnership established as a not-for-profit company and registered charity, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the joint research fund between Nagasaki University and Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.