Using adult mosquitoes to transfer insecticides to Aedes aegypti larval habitats (original) (raw)

Vector control is essential in mitigating mosquito-borne diseases, particularly dengue, for which no effective vaccine or treatment exists. This study introduces an innovative control strategy that utilizes adult mosquitoes to transfer an insecticide (juvenile hormone analogue) to aquatic habitats. Field trials in Iquitos, Peru, demonstrated that disseminating insecticide from only 3-5% of resting sites resulted in significant reductions in larval Aedes aegypti populations, with adult emergence decreased by 42-98%. A deterministic simulation model corroborated these findings, emphasizing the importance of insecticide persistence for effective habitat coverage.