Compatibility of Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis and chemical insecticides for the control of Aedes mosquitoes

The compatibility of the commercial aqueous Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis (B.t.i.) formulation, Vectobac 12AS(R), with the chemical insecticides Actellic 50EC(R), Aqua Resigen(R), Resigen(R), and Fendona SC(R), for the simultaneous control of Aedes larvae and adults was studied by dispersing nine different formulations using a portable mist blower, in single story half-brick houses. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by measuring the larval mortality, adult mortality, and droplet analysis at varying distances from the sprayer. Persistence of the larvicidal activity of the chemical insecticides and B.t.i was also determined by measuring the larval mortality in the test samples 7 days posttreatment. The sprayed particles in all the trials were 50-60 mu m in size, indicating that the particles were those of mist spray. Test samples placed within 3 m from the sprayer gave the maximum larval and adult mortality. Chemical insecticides exhibited maximum larval mortality in the 1 h posttreatment test samples and it was comparable to the larvicidal activity of B.t.i. The larvicidal toxins of B.t.i were more stable and were able to affect sufficient larval mortality for 7 days posttreatment. The larvicidal activity of the mixtures, i.e., chemical insecticides with B.t.i, in the 1 h posttreatment test samples was not significantly different from the larvicidal activity of the chemical insecticides and it was comparable to the larvicidal activity of B.t.i alone. However, the larvicidal activity of the mixtures was significantly more than the chemical insecticides alone in the 7 days posttreatment test samples except for the Actellic 50EC(R) and Vectobac 12AS(R)mixture. In all the trials, with or without B.t.i, there was no significant difference in adult mortality, indicating that this B.t.i formulation, Vectobac 12AS(R), was not antagonistic to the adulticidal activity of the chemical insecticides. From this study, it can be concluded that chemical insecticides can be used effectively for both adult and larval control, but the chemical insecticides do not exhibit residual larvicidal activity. Hence, for an effective control of both Aedes larvae and adults, it is advisable to add B.t.i to the chemical insecticides, as B.t.i is specifically larvicidal and is also able to effect extended residual larvicidal activity.