Economic evaluation of an area-wide integrated pest management program to control the Asian tiger mosquito in New Jersey.

Aedes albopictus is the most invasive mosquito in the world, an important disease vector, and a biting nuisance that limits outdoor activities. Area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) is the recommended control strategy. We conducted an economic evaluation of the AW-IPM project in Mercer and Monmouth Counties, New Jersey with a controlled design (AW-IPM vs. control) from 2009 through 2011. The study analyzed financial documents and staff time for AW-IPM and surveyed an average of 415 randomly chosen households in AW-IPM and control areas each fall from 2008 through 2011. Hours lost from yard and porch activities were calculated as differences between actual and potential hours of these activities in an average summer week if there had been no mosquito concerns. Net estimated benefits of AW-IPM were based on cross-over and difference-in-difference analyses. Reductions in hours lost were valued based on respondents' willingness to pay for a hypothetical extra hour free of mosquitoes spent on yard or porch activities and literature on valuation of a quality adjusted life year (QALY). The incremental cost of AW-IPM per adult was $41.18 per year. Number of hours lost due to mosquitoes in AW-IPM areas between the base year (2008) and the intervention years (2009-2011) declined by 3.30 hours per summer week in AW-IPM areas compared to control areas. Survey respondents valued this improvement at $27.37 per adult per summer week. Over the 13-week summer, an average adult resident gained 42.96 hours of yard and porch time, worth $355.82. The net benefit over the summer was $314.63. With an average of 0.0027 QALYs gained per adult per year, AW-IPM was cost effective at $15,300 per QALY gained. The benefit-cost ratio from hours gained was 8.64, indicating that each $1 spent on AW-IPM gave adults additional porch and yard time worth over $8.

Experiences with the large-scale operation of the Biogents Sentinel trap.

We obtained 160 Biogents Sentinel traps (BGS-traps) to monitor adult mosquito populations for the Area-wide Pest Management Program for the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) in New Jersey. We deployed between 90 and 110 BGS-traps weekly from May through October of 2008, 2009, 2010. and 2011. Here we detail our experience: challenges with acquisition, defects in construction, as well as actions taken to correct problems we found and preempt them in the future. Further, we describe the impact of these problems on our research and provide a cost analysis of repairs.

Assessment of a direct application of two Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis formulations for immediate and residual control of Aedes albopictus.

The bacterial agent Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) is a highly effective larvicide against various medically important mosquito and black fly vector species. Recent formulations of this powerful larvicidal tool have been evaluated for their field efficacy in integrated mosquito management programs. Laboratory and controlled-condition trials have indicated long periods of residual efficacy, whereas field persistence is often much lower in duration. We investigated the residual persistence of high doses of 2 formulations of Bti, a water-dispersible granule (VectoBac WDG; 16 mg/liter) and an extruded pellet (VBC-60066; 80 mg/liter), for the management of natural larval populations of Aedes albopictus. Laboratory tests demonstrated 100% (WDG) and > or = 99.7% (VBC) average mortality across all treatments over 180 days. Field tests exhibited 100% efficacy (WDG and VBC) for 3 wk against Ae. albopictus and other coinhabiting mosquito species, with some residual efficacy lasting for > 4 wk. These results are discussed in relation to current field control of domestic Aedes vectors of public health significance.

Willingness-to-pay for an area-wide integrated pest management program to control the Asian tiger mosquito in New Jersey.

Using contingent valuation we estimated the perceived value of an area-wide integrated pest management program for the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, implemented in Monmouth and Mercer counties, NJ. We estimated residents' maximum willingness-to-pay and perceived monetary benefits (willingness-to-pay excluding residents who protested all types of payments) and payment modality through a telephone survey of 51 randomly selected households. The mean (+/- SE) perceived monetary benefits for an enhanced mosquito abatement program was $9.54 +/- 2.90 per capita per year. Most respondents would have been willing to pay through taxes (35%) or charitable donations (6%) starting then, or through one of these approaches in the future (43%), whereas 16% were completely unwilling to pay any additional costs whatsoever. We projected that the perceived monetary benefits to the counties' 1.01 million residents for an enhanced mosquito control program would be $9.61 million annually. Thus, collectively residents perceived monetary benefits of 3.67 times the combined 2008 annual operating costs of the counties' existing mosquito control programs of $2.61 million.

Glass, rubber, and nylon: how to make a mouth aspirator on a budget for handling adult mosquitoes.

A mouth aspirator with a bent glass tip was designed for adult mosquito collection and transportation. This aspirator has been utilized for mosquito laboratory and operational research in New Jersey for >60 years. We provide schematics and instruction for construction of this inexpensive and simple mouth aspirator, which offers improved maneuverability of handling adult mosquitoes from rearing cages in the laboratory and field application cages.