Development of an innovative lure and kill strategy for the control of mosquito adults and juveniles

The entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) Metarhizium brunneum and the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis have been shown to be highly efficacious in the control of mosquito larvae. The EPF is also known to kill mosquito adults and eggs. We propose to develop lures to attract the adults and larvae to the control agent.

This innovative strategy will prove to be a more efficacious and cost-effective approach.

This research addresses the real-world challenge of cost-effective mosquito control by harnessing the natural efficacy of these microbes and enhancing their deployment through attractants. : 1.Develop blends of the most powerful attractants to lure adult mosquitoes. 2.Screen algae and algal secretions as attractants to lure mosquito larvae. 3.Develop formulations of attractants and control agent(s). 4.

Determine the efficacy of formulated products in small field trials.