Impacts of ground-based ULV pyrethroid sprays on abundance and age structure of the Zika vector, <i>Aedes aegypti</i> (Diptera: Culicidae), in urban Arizona

Aedes aegypti (L.), the primary mosquito vector of arboviruses such as dengue and Zika, has a global distribution that includes the southern United States. Control of this peridomestic mosquito is challenging. Ultra-low volume (ULV) pyrethroid sprays are commonly used against adult mosquitoes to break transmission during a disease outbreak, although efficacy data are limited. This study examined the impacts of ULV sprays on Ae. aegypti vectorial capacity as measured by vector abundance and age structure in two cities in Maricopa County, AZ with robust Ae. aegypti populations and a well-developed vector management program. We assessed impacts of routine ULV applications conducted by Maricopa Vector Control Division during the summer rainy seasons of 2017 to 2019 to determine whether existing practices mainly targeting Culex spp. also suppressed Ae. aegypti. The insecticide formulations applied for Culex spp. control (Duet and Permanone 30-30) did not affect Ae. aegypti abundance, but Duet applications slightly reduced female mosquito age. Deltagard, the insecticide product used specifically against Ae. aegypti, was only applied three times in 2018 over small areas, so efficacy assessment was difficult. Deltagard was associated with a small decline in Ae. aegypti abundance. CDC bottle bioassays of Ae. aegypti collected in the study area showed resistance to permethrin and deltamethrin. Overall, the lack of significant mosquito population suppression or age structure changes after insecticide applications suggest that current tools used by Maricopa Vector Control Division are unlikely to effectively control Ae. aegypti populations in the event of a disease outbreak.