Papers
In 2012, a proactive bed bug suppression program was implemented in a low-income housing facility and evaluated over the course of one year. The mean treatment time and application cost were calculated for each unit. In 2013, both the number of initial infestations and the costs associated with bed ...
Development of the reproductive stages in the life cycle of ants varies among species. Formicine ants usually overwinter or spend development time in the nest between eclosion and the mating flight. Many of the Dolichodorinae and Myrmecinae mate in the nest and colonies reproduce by budding. A formi...
In Germany since more than three decades products based on Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) and Lysinibacillus sphaericus have been successfully used as biological control agents against floodwater mosquitoes, mainly Aedes vexans and Ochlerotatus sticticus as well as against house mosquito C...
The National Pest Advisory Panel of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) in the UK was established in 2001 to advise the CIEH on pest control policy. It developed a pest survey to understand the way in which pest management services within local authorities were operationalised and...
The International Conference of Urban Pests (ICUP) is a link between academic and industry researchers, regulatory officials, government agency leaders, manufacturer representatives and students and presents the latest results in research and development in the field of urban pest control for the pa...
Contrary to recent news reports, the United States continues to be inundated with bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.). Based on a nationwide survey of pest professionals, infestations still are increasing. While most pervasive in residences, the bugs are becoming more common in schools, offices, public ...
Bed bug (Cimex lectularius) infestations on board aircraft is a growing concern and has substantial financial impact on commercial airlines, in some cases it has resulted in Port Health Authorities grounding aircraft. Airlines that have a proactive approach to bed bug management fare much better tha...
A large-arena bioassay is used to examine gender differences in the spatiotemporal patterns of bed bug, Cimex lectularius Latreille 1802, behavioural responses to either a human host or CO2. After release in the center of the arena, 90% of the newly fed bed bugs move to hiding places in the corners ...
The number of bed bug controls in Budapest has been steadily increasing since 2000, an abrupt rise, however, began from 2007. To apply an effective control strategy, it is essential to identify the causes of the increase in the number of bed bugs. To determine the causes, during the past one and a h...
Pyrethroid-resistance in bed bugs, Cimex lectularius, has been described in many countries, but up to now, for Germany no data are available. However, pest control companies increasingly report difficulties in controlling bed bugs with pyrethroids. In the present study four bed bug strains were coll...
Four essential oil-based products and a liquid-based borate spray were tested for their efficacy against adult, pyrethroid-resistant, field-strain and Harold Harlan susceptible-strain bed bugs using direct spray applications. The most effective product was Green Bug (100% mortality in one hour or le...
Insecticide resistance in bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L. and C. hemipterus F.) is a major factor in the pest’s resurgence. Various studies have demonstrated resistance to the pyrethroids, carbamates and the organophosphates. Resistance has been suspected in Australia, with anecdotal reports of poor ...
Worldwide, there are many reports of pyrethroid resistance in bed bugs (Cimex spp.). Previous studies on the Common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., have identified two mutations (V419L and L925I) in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene responsible for knockdown resistance (kdr). However, noth...
Owing to a neglect of mosquito research for several decades, basic data on the occurrence and distribution of mosquitoes are absent for Germany. However, without having available the status quo, it is particularly difficult to detect invasive species and monitor the spread of potential vector specie...
Nagano Prefecture, an inland climate mountain area of Japan, extends widely north and south, and the altitude varies greatly with the location. Mosquitoes transmitting infectious disease have a diversity of habitats in Nagano, and many species can be expected. There have been few reports about mosqu...
In 2003 the invasive Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus arrived in Southern Switzerland for the first time. It has since then been continuously surveyed and controlled using ovitraps for monitoring alongside targeted applications of larvicides (Bti and diflubenzuron) and larval source reduction....
Aedes albopictus is a vector for over 20 viruses, including chikungunya and dengue and where present may pose a threat to human health. Since 2003 A. albopictus is also present in Southern Switzerland in the Canton of Ticino and has since then been continuously surveyed and controlled, mainly by lar...
Dengue virus has been classified as a worldwide emerging disease. South Texas is potentially at risk for dengue virus introduction due to proximity to Mexico, a country with endemic dengue transmission. Previous research has identified two dengue vectors, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in the re...
Due to the scarcity of information about the fauna of mosquitoes in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, an investigation was done with the aim of describing the diversity of species present in green areas of municipal parks in the city. Between March 2011 and February 2012, adult and immature mosquitoes ...
Field studies of two area repellent aerosol formulations with transfluthrin and permethrin active ingredients were carried out against mixed freshwater mosquitoes near Humpty Doo, Northern Territory and against flies (a mixed population of house flies, Musca domestica and bush flies Musca vetustissi...
Under the European Union Biocidal Products Regulation repellents are classified as biocides, and are subject to efficacy studies. To facilitate testing of repellents for product registration the EU has provided technical guidelines. The guidelines leave uncertainties as to how efficacy should be exa...
Dengue virus is transmitted by female mosquito Aedes aegypti and it consists of the most common flavivirus infection. Pakistan is also at high risk of dengue epidemics. The present study focused on the redescription of Aedes aegypti and the detection of dengue virus from 685 field collected larvae o...
This study sought to determine the role of Musca. domestica, sampled from UK hospitals, as reservoirs of pathogenic bacteria. M. domestica were collected from pre-existing ultra-violet light flytraps located throughout the hospitals. External washings and macerates of M. domestica were prepared and ...
We investigated the seasonal abundance and flight activity of adult Limnophyes natalensis within a food industry. A total of 43,163 insects were automatically counted with a special light trap during the study period. The automatically counted numbers reflected the abundance of L. natalensis, becaus...
More than a half million ton of frozen fish, fresh fish and processed sea foods were strewed around the Tsunami disaster areas from fishing port and huge freezing storehouses located along the saw-toothed coastline, approximately 35 minutes after the Great East Earthquake on March 11, 2011. Large po...
Madrid City Council has always used maps for this purpose and in the last decade has taken a further step incorporating Geographical Information Technologies (GIS). As a result urban pest control has improved notably and integrated pest management principals have been straightforwardly accomplished....
A mosquito-based arbovirus surveillance was settled in “Parco Lombardo delle Valli del Ticino” and in neighbouring sites in Milano province (Lombardy). Nine sites were monitored between 2009 and 2013 sampling 82,106 mosquitoes, of which 68.6 % belonged to Culex pipiens L. species. Mosquito were sort...
Tick pests and vectors of human and animal diseases are a permanent component of urban fauna. The present paper addresses the conditions required for persistence of tick populations in urban environment. All urban tick populations originate from populations in natural habitats around towns. Some of ...
The majority of body lice colonies examined in Moscow were permethrin resistant and susceptible to organophosphorus (fenthion, malathion) and neonicotinoid insecticides. Metabolic resistance of body lice to permethrin was investigated using synergists piperonyl butoxide (PBO), S,S,S-tributylphosphor...
Intoxications due to venomous animals are considered a neglected disease in Brazil. Out of the others poisonings, scorpionism became the most important urban plague spread through different regions. Scorpions are ancient arthropods and the bio-ecological features of some dangerous species and their ...
The Invasive Garden Ant, Lasius neglectus, was first recognised in Europe in 1990, and has now been recorded from at least ten European countries. It was first found in the UK in 2009 in Hidcote Manor Garden, Gloucestershire, UK, where the ant is believed to have been present for several decades. A ...
Lord Howe Island is a small sub-tropical island off the east coast of Australia. African bigheaded ant Pheidole megacephala (F.) was discovered on the island in 2003 and been subject to ongoing attempts at eradication resulting from concerns over its impact on native biota. In 2006-2007 a trial was ...
In the European Union, baits against pharaoh ants (Monomorium pharaonis) have to be authorized as biocidal products. The dossier to be submitted for authorization of the product has to include a proof of product efficacy. No consistent test standards have been established by the European Commission....
Camponotus colonies have a worker subcaste, consisting of major and minor workers. This designation is based on the width and height of the head (cephalic index, CI). Performance of tasks by workers results in wear of the mandibular teeth. A sample of workers was taken from a laboratory colony of Ca...
Workers and mainly winged females of Ponerinae ants have been causing painful stings on people in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The species live in small colonies, comprised from a few dozen to a few hundred individuals with monomorphic workers. Ponerinae ants are predators, although some species f...
Pachycondyla chinensis (Emery), the Asian needle ant, is an invasive, stinging ant established in the United States. It is known to displace both native and invasive ant species such as Linepithema humile (Mayr), the Argentine ant. It can be medically important to people who are allergic to arthropo...
The oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) occurs in several buildings of two different blocks in the city of Zürich. Pest control companies were unable to control the infestation, and reported cockroaches in the backyards of these blocks during the warmer periods of the year. The Urban Pest Advisor...
Limited data exist on foraging, agonistic and feeding behavior of subterranean termites of the same species but from different colonies. We conducted research to determine if subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) from different colonies may express unusual foraging, agonistic and f...
Termite baiting has evolved in recent times as a sustainable method for managing termites. Reports that baiting is not cost efficient ar frequent. This case study performs an analysis on the economics of running termite baiting in the city of Manila, Philippines. The article finally shows that inher...
In November 2000, Water UK (a representative organisation which brings together all the water and waste water utilities) and the Local Government Association (A national voice for local government in the UK), published the National Sewer Baiting Protocol which listed a number of principles that Wate...
This paper describes the control of a mice infestation of a bakery in Lyon (France). Where other anticoagulant molecules used for the treatment of the situation failed, the use of difethialone grain showed a great efficacy in the control of this population. Live mice captured on the site where genet...
Deer are not endemic to Australia and, until recent decades, were not a major component of the landscape. With the collapse of deer farming in the 1990s, subsequent deliberate release and translocation of deer from defunct farms, feral deer numbers are increasing dramatically. Historically, only urb...
Global warming together with global trade and tourism gives foreign organisms a lot of opportunities to enter Europe and to find suitable habitats to establish. Many of these species already have a status as pests in their native countries and now start to be of major concern in Europe. A survey is ...
A public survey to determine the current distribution of the invasive brown marmortaed stink bug, Halyomorpha halys in Switzerland showed that by the end of 2013, it was present in 11 Cantons, including six newly invaded Cantons (Basel-Landschaft, Aargau, Genève, Solothurn, Ticino, Thurgau, and Bern...
The biological advisory service (BAS) of the “inatura-Erlebnis Naturschau Dornbirn” is a free service for the general public, authorities and professionals in the state of Vorarlberg (Austria). Pests and annoying intruders in houses and gardens appear as a main topic for the advisors. They are regul...
Whilst the reports of insecticide resistance are numerous, and many mechanisms of resistance have been studied, there has been less emphasis placed on developing and promoting Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM) programmes to address this issue. It is argued that only through the implementation ...
The investigation showed lethal effects to development stades of three different wood boring insects commonly found in storages and exhibition rooms of museums. Hermetically closed chambers without floor sealing contained atmospheres < 1 vol.-%, the results of 100 % mortality could only be determine...
This paper outlines the current status in Europe of Anobium punctatum and reviews its biology, environmental requirements and food sources. It will also review historic insecticidal treatment methods, their efficacy and the long term problems their residues may cause. It evaluates the efficacy of cu...
The aim of our research was to develop and test a biological control method for A. punctatum. After mass rearing of the host-specific braconid wasp species Spathius exarator (L.), laboratory control tests of the parasitism rate were conducted. Praxis tests of the efficiency of the braconid wasps wer...
In 2012, an infestation of Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) was detected in Winterthur (Canton ZH, Switzerland). With more than 140 adult beetles and several hundred eggs and larvae, the infestation was by far the most extensive in Switzerland. Based on experiences in Austria where the first ALB infest...
The webbing clothes moth Tineola bisselliella is economically the most import pest on wool, fur, and feathers. The larvae cause damage in stores, museums and households. Infestation can be through import of infested material or by new infestations out of natural reservoirs. Natural reservoirs are be...
In The Netherlands, until 2002 it was thought that next to Lepisma saccharina, Thermobia domestica was present in residences as well. It appeared T. domestica had been identified incorrectly and was Ctenolepisma longicaudatum. It is hypothesized that the latter species is better adapted to the indoo...
The controlled atmosphere (CA) principle is based on low-oxygen in combination with increased temperatures. CA treatments are commercially used world-wide and have gained acceptance from both governments and industries as the non-toxic fumigant technology for a variety of applications. As a pest con...
A warm air treatment is a non-toxic method to eradicate all stages of stored product insects or insects interfering with food hygiene and human health. The heating units reach temperatures of 50° to 60°C inside the buildings and rooms everywhere and are maintained during a sufficient period of time....
Thermal control is one of the possible control methods for bedbug infestations. It is however often assessed controversially. This assessment is not always based on objective arguments and rarely on own, practical experiences. On the basis of practical trials and experiences from over 450 heat treat...
Heat treatment has been used to control stored food pests, bed bugs, cockroaches, and other household pests, and structural timber and wood pallets. The energy requirements for treating different materials, spaces, and timber require careful attention to maintaining a heat regimen and training of ap...
The Confederation of European Pest Management Associations (CEPA) and its members are sponsoring the development of a European standard for the pest management industry. This would be in collaboration with the European Standards Institute and the National Standards Institutes of the 28 member states...
A new long-lasting, polymer-enhanced formulation has been developed for suspension concentrates of synthetic pyrethroids which addresses and remedies the above mentioned problems. This polymer technology, called PolyZone™ technology, prolongs the effectiveness of deltamethrin suspension concentrates...
Cyantraniliprole is a novel insecticide that belongs to the anthranilic diamide class of insecticides. The novel mode of action of cyantraniliprole depletes calcium from insect muscle, affecting muscle contraction, causing paralysis and eventually death. We report the results of testing of two formu...
Treatment strategies focused on reducing the amount of fipronil applied and the amount fipronil and its metabolites detected in the water runoff. Directed applications around the perimeter of the structure, narrow pin-stream applications, and no spray zones reduced the amount of fipronil detected. A...
In this study, we examined the resistance status of six field-collected strains from Singapore to eight insecticides, as well as the resistance of the parental through F5 generations after they were selected with indoxacarb bait. All strains showed no resistance to acetamiprid (0.7–1.9x), imidaclopr...
Control of the Anopheline vectors is the most effective approach to malaria control. Reductions in mortality and morbidity from malaria have been achieved through the use of pyrethroid treated bed nets, pyrethroid resistant mosquitoes threaten the effectiveness of this valuable intervention. Insecti...
Trials have been conducted with Aquatain AMF, a silicone based self-spreading liquid for mosquito control, in many locations and environments around the world. The trials included Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex mosquitoes. The product has been shown to be effective in very difficult conditions where ot...
Flood water mosquitoes have been successfully controlled in Switzerland for 25 years with products based on Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti). These mosquitoes have a flying range of up to 10 km in search of a blood meal. Before the interventions the quality of life of residents in villages n...