Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) survey and control strategy

The control strategy developed by the Centro Agricoltura e Ambiente is aimed to keep the mosquito population density below the noxiousness/risk threshold.

The activity provided for are:

Monitoring by means of ovitraps

The quantitative monitoring of the population density is a fundamental activity which has to be considered as a component of the control program. The Aedes albopictus monitoring may be conveniently conducted with the use of ovitraps (Fay and Eliason 1966; Carrieri et al., 2009; Albieri et al. 2010; Carrieri et al. 2011). Each ovitrap consists of a black plastic container (capacity: 1000 ml; diameter: 12 cm), with about 700 ml of de-chlorinated water. One strip of masonite 12.5 x 2.5 cm is fixed to the ovitrap side with a metal clip as egg deposition substrate. Biweekly check of the ovitraps is possible, to save time, adding a drop of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis to prevent the development of larvae in the ovitraps. Masonite strips are examined at the stereomicroscope to check for the presence of eggs, for classification and counting. Positioning the ovitraps in the correct way is of fundamental importance to obtain reliable information on mosquito population density.

Control activities

• Public and private drains treatment. The most important Ae. albopictus breeding site typology in Italian urban areas is the catch basin, which often maintain sufficient water to allow larval development all along the summer. To achieve a sufficient level of control of the population density it is necessary to involve into the control program also the catch basins present in private areas. This may be obtained by direct intervention or by citizen participation. The larval control can be performed by using pyriproxyfen or diflubenzuron based products (Colonna et al. 2004, Bellini et al. 2009)
• Public information campaigns for the prevention and control of mosquito population in private areas. The community participation in the prevention and control constitutes a priority for the control of Aedes albopictus. Well informed citizens can cooperate to the control program by signaling critical situations to the officials charged of the mosquito control.
• Source removal campaigns. In areas of high sanitary risk or in case of high population density it may be cost effective to organize source removal operations conducted by skilled personnel in private properties. This activity is also the most effective way to inform citizens about simple actions and behavior to avoid the development of the tiger mosquito.
• Major’s ordinance. As a support to the control activities it is required that municipalities produce an ordinance to define the rules to which citizens and the commercial and productive companies have to conform to, in order to reduce the mosquito proliferation. The Centro Agricoltura e Ambiente is involved in the development of innovative strategies for the control of Aedes albopictus, particularly in the Sterile Insect Technique.

CARRIERI M., A. MASETTI, A. ALBIERI, B. MACCAGNANI, R. BELLINI. 2009. Larvicidal activity and influence of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis on Aedes albopictus oviposition in ovitraps during a two-week check interval protocol. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 25: 149–155

ALBIERI A., M. CARRIERI, P. ANGELINI, F. BALDACCHINI, C. VENTURELLI, S. MASCALI ZEO, R. BELLINI. 2010. Quantitative monitoring of Aedes albopictus in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy: cluster investigation and geostatistical analysis. Bulletin of Insectology 63(2): 209-216

CARRIERI M., A. ALBIERI, P. ANGELINI, F. BALDACCHINI, C. VENTURELLI, S. MASCALI ZEO, R. BELLINI. 2011. Surveillance of the chikungunya vector Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Emilia-Romagna (northern Italy): organizational and technical aspects of a large scale monitoring system. J. Vector Ecol. 36(1): 108-116