Our Services
arm-in-cage
This assay that tests the efficacy of mosquito repellents and attractants. Mosquitos are released into the main cage. A volunteer places their arm(s) into the protected tubes and the number of landings on the mesh are recorded. The volunteer's arm can be treated with repellents.
wind tunnel
The wind tunnel assay, similar to the Y-tube, can be used to test mosquito repellants and attractants in a more natural setting. In this setup, a human bait sits upwind from a three chambered mosquito taxis cage. Mosquitoes are loaded into the middle chamber and are given the choice to either fly towards the bait or away or stay where they are.
We used this assay in our 2017 paper to show the efficacy of a variety of wearable mosquito repellent devices. The data produced with wind tunnel experiments can be used to calculate repellency or attractant indexes for specific treatments or products.
y-tube
This is a powerful assay to test the efficacy of mosquito repellents and attractants. We used this assay in our 2015 paper, The Efficacy of Some Commercially Available Insect Repellents for Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae), where we discovered that Victoria Secret Bombshell perfume is a strong mosquito repellent.
In this assay, mosquitos are released into the mosquito holding chamber of the plexiglas Y-tube and have the choice of flying towards one of two chambers. The treatment chamber usually contains a human hand that can be treated with different repellants or another form of attractant. The control chamber is empty.
The data produced with these experiments enable us to calculate repellency or attractant indexes for specific treatments or products.
fabric feeding assay
We use artificial glass feeders to blood-feed mosquitoes that are located within a cage. The mosquitoes have to land on and feed through the fabric to get to the blood and are so exposed to it.
We measure engorgement rates to determine repellency effects of the repellent treated fabric or the lethality of the pesticide treated fabric. If mosquitoes take blood the fabric treatment was not effective. We can also measure survival rates over time in case the fabric is treated with pyrethroids or other insecticides.
The results of feeding assay experiments can be used the efficacy of specific treatments for clothing, bed nets, etc.
larvicides
Larvicides are an important component for integrated mosquito control efforts. They are an effective tool to reduce larval habitat which is critical for mosquito reproduction.
For testing of larvicide we follow the WHO guidelines for Laboratory and Field testing of mosquito larvicides. Mosquito larvae are exposed to different concentrations of the larvicide and mortality is recorded over time.
The data produced in these experiments are used to calculate the LC50 (lethal concentration that kills 50% of all mosquito larvae in 24 hrs) and the LC90. This information can be used to determine how much larvicide should be used for treating mosquito larval habitat as well as for determining levels of larvicide resistance in specific populations of mosquitoes.
adult insecticide bottle tests
This test is used to determine the efficacy of specific insecticides in killing adult mosquitoes. It can also be used to determine the levels of insecticide resistance in specific mosquito populations.
We follow the CDC guidelines when performing this test. Mosquitoes are transferred into bottles that have been treated with various insecticides and their mortality is monitored over time.
This test can be used to compare the efficacy of novel and old adulticides as well as to determine resistance to specific adulticides.
field tests
The most time-consuming and expensive assay for repellents or repellent devices is the field test. For this test an experimenter is set up in the field within mosquito habitat at times when mosquitoes are most active. The experimenter wears a protective suit that only exposes the arms. A second experimenter catches all mosquitoes that land on the test person using an aspirator.
This assay can be used to test the efficacy of spray-on repellents, lotions, repellent devices, or repellent-treated clothing.
flea and tick
We perform assays to determine the efficacy of tick repellents.
The .gif to the right depicts our carousel tick assay. Ticks are placed in a small patch of turf grass surrounded by a sticky trap. The carousel rotates at a set speed and gently grazes the top of the turf grass patch with a piece of cloth to which ticks may attach to. The cloth may be treated with repellents to determine their efficacy based on the number of ticks that attach.
F.A.Q.
Will the released male mosquitos bite?
Male mosquitos do not bite. Only female mosquitos bite and take blood.
Are the mosquitos radioactive?
The mosquitos are not radioactive. They are irradiated at very low dosages of radiation, just enough to ensure sterility. Getting an X-ray at the doctor’s or the dentist’s won’t make a human radioactive, just as this irradiation will not make the mosquitos radioactive.
sterile insect technique (SIT)
shampoo assay
This test is used to determine the efficacy of repellent and/or insect-killing shampoos for pets such as cats and dogs. We can test shampoos for efficacy against fleas and ticks.