A REVIEW OF ULTRALOW-VOLUME AERIAL SPRAYS OF INSECTICIDE FOR MOSQUITO-CONTROL

This review of research on ultralow-volume (ULV) aerial sprays for mos quito control is a component of an Aerial SPray EXpert system (ASPEX). Topics include application volume, adulticiding, larviciding, droplet size, and meteorology. The review discusses the efficacy of ULV aeria l sprays against many important pest and Vector species of mosquitoes in a wide range of locations and habitats in the USA and in some count ries of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Nine conclusions were drawn fr om this review. 1) ULV applications are as effective for mosquito cont rol as highly-diluted, water-based sprays. 2) More acres can be spraye d per aircraft load with the ULV method than with dilute sprays. 3) Hi gh-altitude ULV sprays using wide or stacked swaths could be used in e mergencies if wind speed and direction data at appropriate altitudes a re available to accurately place the spray. 4) Successful adult mosqui to control can be achieved in dense foliage or open housing with ULV a erial sprays, but doses of insecticide must be increased 5) ULV aerial application of mosquito larvicides can be used successfully in large areas. 6) The optimum droplet size for adult mosquito control is 5-25 mu m volume median diameter (VMD). 7) For mosquito adulticiding, near optimum atomization of ULV sprays is achieved with flat-fan nozzles or iented straight down or slightly forward for high-speed aircraft (grea ter than or equal to 150 mph) or rotary atomizers on slow-speed aircra ft (<150 mph). 8) Optimum atomization minimizes paint spotting. 9) Max imum adult mosquito control is achieved just after sunrise and just be fore sunset with 2-10 mph crosswinds.