Statewide Efficacy Assessment of Insect Growth Regulators Against Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Sabah, Malaysia: An Alternative Control Strategy?

The efficacy of three groups of insect growth regulators, namely juvenile hormone mimics (methoprene and pyriproxyfen), chitin synthesis inhibitors (diflubenzuron and novaluron), and molting disruptor (cyromazine) was evaluated for the first time, against Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae from 14 districts in Sabah, Malaysia. The results showed that all field populations of Ae. albopictus were susceptible towards methoprene, pyriproxyfen, diflubenzuron, novaluron, and cyromazine, with resistance ratio values ranging from 0.50-0.90, 0.60-1.00, 0.67-1.17, 0.71-1.29, and 0.74-1.07, respectively. Overall, the efficacy assessment of insect growth regulators in this study showed promising outcomes and they could be further explored as an alternative to conventional insecticides.

Assessment of the susceptibility status of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Interior, Sandakan and Tawau divisions of Sabah, Malaysia based on WHO diagnostic doses of larvicides.

Susceptibility status of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) sampled from residential areas in Interior, Sandakan and Tawau divisions of Sabah, Malaysia, was evaluated based on the WHOrecommended doses of organochlorine and organophosphate larvicides. To determine susceptibility status, larval bioassays were carried out and post 24-hour mortalities based on WHO resistance classifications were adopted. The results demonstrated that Ae. albopictus larvae were resistant toward 5 out of the 8 larvicides tested. Larvae from all populations were resistant against bromophos, fenitrothion, malathion, temephos and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), with mortalities ranging from 0.00 to 89.33%. Dieldrin, on the other hand, could induce 100.00% mortalities in all populations, followed by fenthion and chlorpyrifos, with mortalities ranging from 97.33 to 100.00% and 81.33 to 100.00% respectively. Despite most populations exhibiting similitude in their resistance status, larvae from Sandakan exhibited the highest resistance level whereas the lowest level was observed in Keningau. In view of the inadequacy of some larvicides in controlling Ae. albopictus in this study, integrated management such as insecticide rotation or combination of interventions is warranted.

Adulticide Resistance Status of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Sabah, Malaysia: A Statewide Assessment.

Resistance status of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) collected from Sabah, East Malaysia, was evaluated against four major classes of adulticides, namely pyrethroid, carbamate, organochlorine, and organophosphate. Adult bioassays conforming to WHO standard protocols were conducted to assess knockdown and mortality rates of Ae. albopictus. Among tested pyrethroid adulticides, only cyfluthrin, lambda-cyaholthrin, and deltamethrin were able to inflict total knockdown. The other adulticide classes mostly failed to cause any knockdown; the highest knockdown rate was only 18.33% for propoxur. With regards to mortality rate, Ae. albopictus was unanimously susceptible toward all pyrethroids, dieldrin, and malathion, but exhibited resistance toward bendiocarb, propoxur, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and fenitrothion. Additionally, correlation analysis demonstrated cross-resistance between bendiocarb and propoxur, and malathion and propoxur. In conclusion, this study has disclosed that pyrethroids are still generally effective for Aedes control in Sabah, Malaysia. The susceptibility status of Ae. albopictus against pyrethroids in descending order was cyfluthrin > lambda-cyhalothrin > deltamethrin > etofenprox > permethrin.