Oral Presentation Abstracts Plenary Session PL-1 Are We Superheroes Fighting Transformers?

In Durán, Ecuador, newly urbanized areas provide distinct housing qualities (HQs) that may impact Aedes aegypti behavior. We defined HQ by the type of construction material of the house. Moreover, there are numerous abandoned vegetated lots (VL) providing mosquito-vectors with resting and sugar-feeding habitats. We aim to estimate proportions of Ae. aegypti female mosquitoes that sugar-feed in VL accounting for HQ. We selected nine 50x50 VL and recorded the construction material of the homes that were within 30 m distance from the VL. A barrier application of a non-attractant color-dyed 30% sucrose solution was made to the VL. The dye allowed tracking of mosquitoes that were resting or sugar-feeding in the VL and then entered the houses. Post 24h application, indoor aspirations were conducted. We gave a HQ score of 0 if the construction materials were cane, wood, and dirt or a score of 1 if it was cement; scores were added. Counts of total female mosquitoes stained and non-stained were recorded. The mean number of stained females adenines found was 1.76 (SE± 0.39; CL 0.91–2.62) from a total mean of 3.53 (SE ±0.39; CL:1.94-5.12). Correlations between HQ and proportion of stained females were found (r2=0.56; p=0.04). HQ was not associated with total proportion of females. Evaluation suggests that sugar-fed female Ae. aegypti may prefer to switch from VL as resting habitats to homes with a better HQ. More detailed studies are needed to predict Ae. aegypti abundance in reference to construction materials and sugar availability in urban areas. 66 Adding an IGR to Mosquito Barrier Treatments to Increase Their Residual Effectiveness in Suburban Backyards Glen Skiles, [email protected], Kyndall Dye, Nicola Gallagher, Grayson Brown Aiming to increase residual effectiveness of mosquito barrier treatments, the pupal IGR Archer® was combined with Demand® and applied to the perimeter of 30 suburban backyards. Mosquito populations were then monitored weekly using 5 different methods and homeowners surveyed three times. Mosquito populations were reduced by approximately 75% compared to controls and remained suppressed throughout the study period. Surveys revealed a high level of homeowner satisfaction, although a placebo effect was evident in their responses. 22 Modeling optimum use of attractive toxic sugar bait stations for effective malaria vector control in Africa Lin Zhu, [email protected], John Marshall, Whitney Qualls, Yosef Schlein, John Beier Insecticide resistance and the increased outdoor biting behavior of malaria vectors reduce the efficiency of indoor vector control methods. Attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSBs), a method targeting the sugar feeding behaviors of vectors both indoors and outdoors, is a promising supplement to indoor tools. A hypothetical village consisting of houses, humans, and essential resource requirements of Anopheles gambiae (sugar sources, outdoor resting sites and larval habitats) was simulated in a spatial individual-based model to determine the optimum number and configuration of ATSB stations needed for malaria control. Compared to the outcomes not altered by the ATSB treatment in the control scenario, the optimum ATSB treatment reduced female abundance by 98.2%, reduced human biting rate (HBR) by 99.5%, and reduced entomological inoculation rate (EIR) by 99.9%. N x n grid design, stations at sugar sources, resting sites, larval habitats, and random locations worked better in reducing vector population and HBRs than other configurations (P < 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference of EIR reduction between all ATSB configurations (P > 0.05). ATSB treatment reduced An. gambiae population substantially and reduced EIR to near zero regardless of environmental resource availability. Dispersive configurations worked better in reducing vector population, and stations at or around houses worked better in preventing biting and parasite transmission. Optimum numbers of bait stations should be adjusted according to seasonality when resource availability changes. 23 Sublethal effects of Temprid on bed bug (Cimex lectularius) behaviors and implications for control Sydney Crawley, [email protected], Michael Potter, Kenneth Haynes Exposure to a sublethal dosage of insecticides can often result in changes in the insect’s behavior. These behavioral changes observed in individuals may have consequences at the population level, and thus could impact success or failure of pest management. In this study, we investigated the sublethal effects of Temprid®, a product that combines a neonicotinoid and a pyrethroid insecticide, on various bed bug (Cimex lectularius) behaviors. Bed bugs are an urban pest with public health relevance, as infestations result in substantial effects on human health and well-being. We found that short-term exposure to a residual deposit of this insecticide resulted in a reduction in the volume of blood taken per blood meal, and reduced efficiency of host finding. Additionally, the Temprid® reduced spontaneous movements of bed bugs that are under circadian control. Fecundity of insecticide-exposed bed bugs was also reduced. However, we found no difference in the ability of treated bugs to respond to bed bug aggregation pheromone; exposed bugs located a marked harborage as efficiently as unexposed bugs. Also, treated and untreated bed bugs did not avoid insecticide deposits. These results were consistent among three populations of bed bugs with varying inherent levels of insecticide susceptibility. These data suggest that the behavior and fecundity of bed bugs can be adversely affected by exposure to an insecticide. Implications of sublethal effects of insecticides on pest management of bed bugs and other blood-feeding arthropods will be discussed. Education/ Public Relations/ General 44 Mastering the mosquito control message and media interview Jill Oviatt, [email protected] The quality of your spokespeople and their ability to communicate important messages effectively and manage risks during media interviews can make or break the reputation of a Mosquito and Vector Control District and dictate whether the public understands and acts on specific threats to public health. Knowing how to craft the right message for a media interview, deliver that message repeatedly with the right tone and manner, and knowing how to answer tough questions without becoming defensive, while maintaining control of the interview and bridging back seamlessly to your message are all skills spokespeople need to be effective in communicating to the public during interviews. This paper outlines a step-by-step process for managing media interviews, including how to develop and use messages that are newsworthy; how to control and manage interview flow; and how to handle difficult questions with confidence. Examples of messaging crafted at mosquito and vector control districts and the interview clips that resulted will be used to illustrate the method. 45 Making the mosquito the hero – The shaping of a public relations campaign Kelly Middleton, [email protected], Jason Farned, Levy Sun Two Los Angeles County, California, vector control districts collaborated with the University of Kentucky and MosquitoMate on the release of the novel Wolbachia-infected male Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) or ‘ZAP’ mosquitoes to evaluate this technology for the control of a rapidly spreading infestation of Aedes albopictus in parts of Los Angeles County. Creating an effective outreach strategy required that these districts introduce this exciting new program, convey the need, the strategy, the safety, and the goals of this approach in an easy-to-understand and palatable manner. This campaign targeted an extremely diverse demographic from community leaders to non-English speaking residents. Developing the Sterile Male Tiger Mosquito Pilot Program campaign required careful attention to specific message terminology. The campaign was implemented in three key phases to guarantee adequate notice and ease potential concerns over the use of a novel strategy to control mosquitoes in densely populated Los Angeles County. Careful priming and message management yielded a successful campaign launch and widespread public support. 46 Clicking to the masses Adrian Salinas, [email protected] Every mosquito control public information department can be its own TV station, magazine, and newspaper with a website, Facebook and Twitter. Are you preparing your surveillance equipment for the season? Did an inspector find larvae? Did you collect 12,000 adults in a surveillance trap? These are perfect activities to post. Shoot some video add content and post it! By posting current activities in a timely manner, it illustrates the scope and complexity of an integrated mosquito management program. 210 Pennies per person: Digital advertising closing the gap between people and vector control Levy Sun, [email protected] There are numerous studies on the effectiveness of public health agency marketing and educational outreach strategies. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the effectiveness of newer, digital tools to communicate to vector control agencies’ target audiences. One of these tools is targeted online advertising (TOA) utilizing audiences' Internet search queries and their geographic locations. Extant literature reveals that there are significant benefits to using TOA in general marketing outreach. Agencies with limited budgets can engage multiple audiences over a large geographic area. Additional benefits include displaying a vector control’s key messages in defined parameters as narrow as zip codes and demographic characteristics. This allows vector control to target “hotspots” within the agency’s jurisdiction. From 2014 to 2015, Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD) implemented TOA to determine its efficacy in public relations and marketing strategy. Analysis of TOA results revealed many benefits for vector control agencies. This digital tactic provided real-time results, which allows vector control communicators to quickly adjust public relations and marketing strategies. The cost-benefit analysis showed GLACVCD’s TOA tactic reached its target audiences at the average cost of a $0.013 USD per person for a total of more than half a million impressions. Additionally, TOA, in combination with analytic tools, helped measure the efficacy of other public relations tactics. Analyzed data also provided suggestions for future research. 211 REPEL: (Reach out, Educate, Provide, Everyone, Local) Cindy Mulla, [email protected] Strategy building from your base camp (mosquito control district) to reach the summit (the citizens) by educating and providing your local expedition (community) with accurate information. This method can be continuously acquired by a multitude of unique and fascinating routes. Thus, creating the comfort level for the individual through REPEL (Reach out, Educate, Provide Everyone Local). It’s even possible to reach the national and international level through this positive and trusting established relationship. Within our district, REPEL displayed success and we would like to share this method with the industry. Recent and Emerging VectorBorne and Zoonotic Disease Threats to the US