Optimizing an aerial spray for mosquito control.

The role of proper flight line positioning was demonstrated to be critical for maximizing product efficacy when spraying in crosswinds by small-droplet spray strategies. Characterization studies indicated clearly that aircraft height, small drop emission distribution, and the ambient winds combine to dilute the spray cloud before impacting surface targets. A 5-fold increase in mortality was achieved when we used optimization techniques to position the aircraft during a crosswind treatment test.