Aedes albopictus control with spray application of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, strain AM 65-52

A Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) formulation, VectoBac WG (strain AM 65-52), was evaluated for mosquito control in a training area with dense vegetation. Bti was spray applied to target Aedes albopictus larval habitats of 130 ha once every 2 weeks using a motorized back pack mist blower, Stihl SR420, and a vehicle mounted ultra low volume generator (ULV), IGEBA U40. Ovitrap index (OI) and larval density (LD) were used to measure the efficacy of larviciding. In the Bti treated area the OI and LD significantly decreased with time (p < 0.05); OI decreased from 84.3 +/- 1.7 to 27.5 +/- 2.5 (%) and LD decreased from 27.9 +/- 1.5 to 3.2 +/- 1.8 larvae per ovitrap by 3 months from the start of treatment. During the same period of time there was no significant reduction in OI and LD at the untreated site which was under a conventional mosquito control program. This large scale study indicates larvicidal spraying with Bti of natural breeding sites, was able to reduce Ae. albopictus adult density. This significant reduction was not achieved with conventional manual application methods.