GROUND-BASED PYRETHROID ADULTICIDES REDUCE MOSQUITOES BUT NOT NONTARGET INSECTS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. Hart, JD, et al. 2024. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 40(3):125–136, 2024.
ABSTRACT. As stewards of public and environmental health, mosquito control agencies are rightfully concerned about [treatment] impacts on nontarget organisms. This study examined the impact of a modern, pyrethroid based ground adulticide program using ultra-low volume applications in a metropolitan county in central Florida. Nontarget insects and mosquitoes were collected in a before-after control-impact design at 21 sites over 1.5 years. While mosquitoes were reduced, we found no evidence for reduction of nontarget insects, regardless of taxon. Night-flying Lepidoptera may experience greater risk than other nontarget taxa, but overall effects of adulticide missions on this group were low and inconsistent. Instead, meteorology, habitat, and phenology dominate patterns of nontarget abundance. Mosquito reduction was more clearly observed and corrected post-mission reduction was consistent with results expected in complex urban and suburban treatment zones.
Note: Interestingly this paper did not present results for Diptera groups closely related to mosquitoes such as the Chironomidae, but rather focused on larger-bodied groups such as the Calliphoridae. Regardless, the study seemed well-done and should provide useful information to support the application of adulticides.