An exploratory study on tick control in the field

A field test for tick control was carried out using a 10% lambda-cyhalothrin microcapsule suspension (Weibao®10% lambda-cyhalothrin CS, Jiangsu Gongcheng Bio-tech Co., Ltd.) to kill ticks and prevent diseases during field crowd-gathering activities or temporary resettlement sites after disasters. In this study, three field test sites were selected, and each experimental site was set up with a test plot and a control plot. Before spraying, the density of ticks in three test plots and three control plots was investigated by the flagging method, and then the insecticide at a concentration of 0.03% was sprayed using a motor mist sprayer and an electric constant sprayer. After spraying, the effect on tick abundance was continuously monitored. On days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 after spraying, the treatment efficacy in three test plots was high (80-100%) in most cases. Wild animals, sheep and dogs were not prohibited from entering test sites in the test and control areas. Spraying 0.03% lambda-cyhalothrin microcapsule suspension could maintain a low-density tick state for about three weeks. This study also provides an approach for controlling the epidemic situation by killing ticks during high incidence of tick-borne diseases.