Texas Tech University, Department of Biological Sciences, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America.
Texas Tech University, Center for Biotechnology & Genomics, Lubbock, Texas, United States of America.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Oct 14;15(10):e0009824. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009824. eCollection 2021 Oct.
The frequency of arboviral disease epidemics is increasing and vector control remains the primary mechanism to limit arboviral transmission. Container inhabiting mosquitoes such as Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti are the primary vectors of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. Current vector control methods for these species are often ineffective, suggesting the need for novel control approaches. A proposed novel approach is autodissemination of insect growth regulators (IGRs). The advantage of autodissemination approaches is small amounts of active ingredients compared to traditional insecticide applications are used to impact mosquito populations. While the direct targeting of cryptic locations via autodissemination seems like a significant advantage over large scale applications of insecticides, this approach could actually affect nontarget organisms by delivering these highly potent long lasting growth inhibitors such as pyriproxyfen (PPF) to the exact locations that other beneficial insects visit, such as a nectar source. Here we tested the hypothesis that PPF treated male Ae. albopictus will contaminate nectar sources, which results in the indirect transfer of PPF to European honey bees (Apis mellifera). We performed bioassays, fluorescent imaging, and mass spectrometry on insect and artificial nectar source materials to examine for intra- and interspecific transfer of PPF. Data suggests there is direct transfer of PPF from Ae. albopictus PPF treated males and indirect transfer of PPF to A. mellifera from artificial nectar sources. In addition, we show a reduction in fecundity in Ae. albopictus and Drosophila melanogaster when exposed to sublethal doses of PPF. The observed transfer of PPF to A. mellifera suggests the need for further investigation of autodissemination approaches in a more field like setting to examine for risks to insect pollinators.
虫媒病毒病疫情的发生频率正在增加，而病媒控制仍然是限制虫媒病毒传播的主要手段。容器栖息的蚊子，如白纹伊蚊和埃及伊蚊，是登革热、基孔肯雅热和寨卡病毒的主要传播媒介。目前针对这些物种的病媒控制方法往往效果不佳，这表明需要新的控制方法。一种新的方法是昆虫生长调节剂（IGR）的自动传播。与传统杀虫剂应用相比，自动传播方法的优势在于使用少量的有效成分来影响蚊子种群。虽然通过自动传播直接针对隐匿部位似乎比大规模应用杀虫剂具有显著优势，但这种方法实际上可能会通过将这些高效持久的生长抑制剂（如吡丙醚（PPF））输送到其他有益昆虫如花蜜源等访问的精确位置，从而影响非目标生物。在这里，我们测试了这样一个假设，即经过 PPF 处理的雄性白纹伊蚊会污染花蜜源，从而将 PPF 间接转移到欧洲蜜蜂（Apis mellifera）身上。我们对昆虫和人工花蜜源材料进行了生物测定、荧光成像和质谱分析，以检查 PPF 的种内和种间转移。数据表明，PPF 从经过 PPF 处理的雄性白纹伊蚊中直接转移，并从人工花蜜源中间接转移到 A. mellifera。此外，我们还发现，当接触到亚致死剂量的 PPF 时，白纹伊蚊和黑腹果蝇的繁殖力会降低。PPF 转移到 A. mellifera 表明需要在更接近野外的环境中进一步研究自动传播方法，以检查其对昆虫传粉媒介的风险。
