Phlebotomine sand fly control using bait-fed adults to carry the larvicide Bacillus sphaericus to the larval habitat

Leon L. Robert*, Michael J. Perich, Yosef Schlein, Raymond L. Jacobson, Robert A. Wirtz, Phillip G. Lawyer, John I. Githure

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sugar meals of plant origin are an important component of the sand fly diet. We show that sugar solution baits have potential as vehicles for phlebotomine sand fly control. In the laboratory, adult Phlebotomus duboscqi Neveu-Lemaire and Sergentomyia schwetzi (Adler, Theodor, and Parrot) that have consumed an aqueous sucrose solution containing Bacillus sphaericus Neide toxins and are subsequently eaten by larvae produce significant larval death (P < 0.01). In the field, when vegetation near animal burrows and eroded termite mounds was sprayed with sucrose solution with or without incorporation of the larval toxicant B. sphaericus, 40% of female sand flies fed in situ. Dispersing B. sphaericus-carrier sand flies caused significant larval mortality (P < 0.01) in resting and breeding sites in animal burrows 10-30 m from the sprayed vegetation for 2-12 wk posttreatment. Also, adult sand fly populations breeding and resting inside animal burrows were significantly reduced (P < 0.01) following direct application of the sucrose/B. sphaericus solution to the burrow entrances. This control effect lasted 4-10 wk post-treatment. The effect was not seen for sand fly populations breeding and resting inside eroded termite mounds. This approach may be useful for the application of biological control agents against phlebotomine sand flies in biotypes where larvae and adults use the same habitats.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)140-144
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Volume13
Issue number2
StatePublished - Jun 1997

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