Aerial ultra-low-volume application of naled: impact on nontarget imperiled butterfly larvae (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) and efficacy against adult mosquitoes (Aedes taeniorhynchus).

We assessed the exposure and acute toxicity of naled, applied aerially as an ultra-low-volume spray for mosquito control, on late instar larvae of the Miami blue (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) (Comstock and Huntington 1943) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), an imperiled South Florida butterfly. We concurrently evaluated the control efficacy against caged adult female salt-marsh mosquitoes (Aedes taeniorhynchus) (Wiedemann 1821) (Diptera: Culicidae). This 3-yr study was conducted in north Key Largo (Monroe County, FL) beginning in 2006. The field trials incorporated 15 sampling stations: nine in the target spray zone, three in the spray drift zone at varying distances from the target zone, and three in the control zone not subjected to naled spray drift. A total of six field spray trials were completed, three at an altitude of 30.5 m (100 feet), and three at 45.7 m (150 feet). For all trials, the ultra-low-volume application of Trumpet EC insecticide (78% naled) at a rate of 54.8 ml/ha (0.75 fl. oz/acre) was effective in killing caged adult mosquitoes in the target zone. Butterfly larvae survival was significantly reduced in the spray zone compared with drift and control zones. Analysis of insecticide residue data revealed that the mortality of the late instar butterfly larvae was a result of exposure to excess residues of naled. Additional research is needed to determine mitigation strategies that can limit exposure of sensitive butterflies to naled while maintaining mosquito control efficacy.

Survey of container-breeding mosquitoes from the Florida Keys, Monroe County, Florida.

A survey of container-breeding mosquitoes was conducted on urban islands (Big Coppitt Key, Rockland Key, Key West, and Stock Island) and rural islands (Big Pine Key, Cudjoe Key, Little Torch Key, No Name Key, Ramrod Key, Saddlebunch Keys, Sugarloaf Key, and Summerland Key) within the Florida Keys. Five mosquito species were collected: Aedes aegypti, Culex nigripalpus, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. salinarius, and Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus. Plastic buckets, trash cans, and discarded plastic containers most commonly were found to be mosquito breeding sites. Many containers were used by more than 1 mosquito species. More containers holding water were found in the rural areas than in the urban areas. The percentage of wet containers with mosquitoes did not differ between the rural and urban areas.

Morphological, molecular, and chromosomal discrimination of cryptic Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) (Diptera: Culicidae) from South America.

Based on similarity of male genitalia, the malaria vector Anopheles trinkae Faran from the eastern Andean piedmont of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia was determined by Peyton (1993) to be a junior synonym of An. dunhami Causey, then known from a single locality in Amazonian Brazil. Following an appraisal of molecular, chromosomal, and morphological characters, we conclude herein that the 2 taxa are specifically distinct and remove An. trinkae from synonymy with An. dunhami. Eggs of the 2 species are distinguished easily by the anterior crown, long floats, and closed deck that occur only in An. trinkae. The X chromosome of larval polytenes is divisible into R and L arms in An. dunhami, but not in An. trinkae. A phenogram based on banding pattern scores from 18 random amplified polymorphic DNA primers separated with 100% resolution An. dunhami, An. trinkae, Anopheles nuneztovari Gabaldón and Anopheles darlingi Root. In the ITS2 region of rDNA, 25% of base sites distinguished An. trinkae from An. dunhami and 21% from the related An. nuneztovari; males of these 3 species had accessory glands of significantly different sizes. Preliminary isoenzyme screening indicated that 3 of 11 loci were diagnostic for separating An. trinkae from An. dunhami. The results indicate that An. dunhami is related more closely to An. nuneztovari than to An. trinkae and illustrate the merits of a multidisciplinary approach to mosquito systematics.

Larval rearing temperature affects morphology of Anopheles albimanus (Diptera:Culicidae) male genitalia.

The structure of the male genitalia of Anopheles albimanus Wied. is affected by larval rearing temperature. Morphometric analyses of 50 specimens revealed significant variation of 5 genitalic characters. The gonocoxa, dorsal claspette lobes, and aedeagus were longer for males reared at 22 degrees C. The parabasal seta was longer and the aedeagus was wider for males reared at 30 degrees C. Extra parabasal setae and lateral projections of the aedeagus were seen on some specimens.

Responses of horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) to Jersey bullocks and canopy traps baited with ammonia, octenol, and carbon dioxide.

The attraction of females of six species of tabanids to stanchioned Jersey bullocks, unbaited canopy traps, and canopy traps baited with either octenol (1-octen-3-ol), ammonia (NH4OH), a combination of ammonia and octenol, or 5 kg of dry ice (CO2) was studied. A randomized Latin square design (treatments x sites x days) was used. Species diversity and number of flies captured in canopy traps unbaited or baited with octenol, ammonia, or the combination of octenol and ammonia did not differ significantly. Females of Tabanus americanus Forster, T. fuscicostatus Hine, and T. lineola F. were captured more frequently in CO2-baited canopy traps than on Jersey bullocks, but the reverse was observed for females of Leucotabanus annulatus (Say). The number of females of T. pallidescens Philip and T. wilsoni Pechuman collected from CO2-baited canopy traps and bullocks did not differ significantly.

Relative susceptibility of beef and dairy calves to infection by bovine leukemia virus via tabanid (Diptera: Tabanidae) feeding.

Differences in susceptibility of beef (mixed breeds) and dairy (Holstein) calves to infection by bovine leukemia virus (BLV) were compared. Transmission was accomplished by interrupted feeding of horse flies, Tabanus fuscicostatus Hine, on a donor cow exhibiting persistent lymphocytosis. Flies were transferred individually from the donor cow to each of 11 beef and 10 dairy calves. Transmission of BLV was accomplished with groups of 50 and 250 flies for beef calves and 75 and 250 for dairy calves. These findings indicate that susceptibility of beef and dairy calves to transmission of BLV by tabanids is equivalent and that BLV prevalence differences previously observed among cattle breeds may be caused by management practices.

A new simplified assay for larval migration inhibition.

A simple method is described for the in vitro detection of substances that impair the motility of third-stage larvae of gastro-intestinal nematodes. The test is based on the ability of larvae to freely migrate through selected mesh sizes of nylon sieves and the reduced ability of larvae to migrate after preincubation with, and in the presence of, substances that inhibit or reduce larval motility.

Similar reproductive status and body size of horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) attracted to carbon dioxide-baited canopy traps and a Jersey bullock.

The reproductive status and body size of four Tabanus species collected from canopy traps baited with carbon dioxide and from a Jersey bullock were compared. Parity rates, sperm prevalence, stage of follicular development in terminal follicles of parous females, prevalence of females retaining eggs, average number of eggs retained in parous flies, and the body size of parous females did not differ significantly between sampling methods. Based on the presence of nulliparous host-seeking flies, Tabanus pallidescens Philip and T. wilsoni Pechuman can be added to the list of tabanids found to be anautogenous.

Ammonia as an attractant for adult Hybomitra lasiophthalma (Diptera: Tabanidae).

Ammonia and carbon dioxide were evaluated as attractants in canopy traps for Hybomitra lasiophthalma (Macquart). Ammonia-baited traps collected 2.5 times as many flies as did unbaited traps (33.27 versus 12.93 per trap per day). Over 45 times as many flies were captured in carbon dioxide-baited traps as in unbaited traps (1,630.64 versus 35.82 per trap per day). Both ammonia and carbon dioxide are effective attractants for H. lasiophthalma.

Design for a canopy trap for collecting horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae).

A design for a canopy trap for collecting horse flies is described. The collecting heads can easily be changed since the collar is fixed in place and supports the trap. The collar allows an unobstructed pathway to the collecting head. The center pole has a sliding steel rod that allows adjustment of canopy height upon installation in one operation.

Increasing horse fly (Diptera: Tabanidae) catch in canopy traps by reducing ultraviolet light reflectance.

Application of UV Killer, a commercially available product which reduced ultraviolet reflectance from cloth fabrics, increased the catch of tabanids in canopy traps by 24% and in CO2-baited traps by 30%. Catch decreased as ultraviolet reflectance increased during the experiment.

Human myiasis caused by Phormia regina in Pennsylvania.

A case of human myiasis caused by the black blowfly, P. regina, has been presented. Although various reports have documented the therapeutic effects of maggot infestation, infection and mortality by gas-forming anaerobic organisms also have been reported. The removal of maggots from a wound can be accomplished using various methods. The authors successfully used topical application of dichlorotetrafluoroethane.