Dr. Stephanie Richards received a $15,000 award from Syngenta for a project titled, “Evaluation of Barrier Sprays in Eastern North Carolina for the Control of Aedes albopictus“. The purpose of this field project is to evaluate the effect of a formulated product that contains a pyrethroid and an insect growth regulator (IGR) as a barrier spray for Ae. albopictus control using ovitraps and BG Sentinel traps. A local Clegg’s Pest Control branch will be conducting the barrier spray treatments.
In addition, a laboratory component will be added to the study where fecundity, fertility, and survival rate are assessed for progeny of adult mosquitoes exposed to the same IGR. This will involve assessing field-collected Ae. albopictus eggs and also designing a controlled lab study to evaluate these potential effects.
