A Technical Review of MULV-Disp, a Recent Mosquito Ultra-Low Volume Pesticide Spray Dispersion Model

The authors of a recently published paper summarized the development of a regression model for ground-based ultra-low volume applications, suggesting that their model was sufficiently verified that it could be used extensively for mosquito control. These authors claimed that their statistical model was superior in its predictive capability to the extensively developed and Environmental Protection Agency-validated AGDISP mechanistic model. In this technical review, the assumptions, reduction and interpretation of data, and conclusions reached with regard to their model are discussed, and explicit misstatements and incorrect mathematical relationships are pointed out. Two published versions of the model regression equation give substantially different results without explanation. Petri dish collection was used for very small droplets, with no mention of collection efficiency. Meteorological data were misused based on manufacturer's specification of instrument accuracy. We strongly disagree with many of the model results and show that the model misrepresents the actual behavior of aerosol sprays applied in the manner tested.