Evaluation of the effectiveness of fruit pulp mixed toxic sugar baits against adult Aedes Aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) In the laboratory

Abstract

Aedes aegypti is the primary vector for dengue, a severe viral disease. Current vector control methods often fail to effectively reduce Ae. aegypti populations and control dengue transmission. Attractive Toxic Sugar Baits (ATSB) offer a promising “attract and kill” strategy for mosquito control. This study developed and evaluated an ATSB formulation comprising fruit juice, sugar, and boric acid against male and female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. The formulation included boric acid (1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%), 10% sucrose, and 3% blue dye. Lethal concentration (LC₅₀ and LC₉₀) values by “Probit Analysis” for boric acid within 24 and 48 hours were determined. For females (25), 24-hour LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ were 1.30% and 2.40%, with 48-hour values of 0.86% and 1.64%. For males (25), 24-hour LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ were 0.88% and 1.39%, with 48-hour values of 0.67% and 1.11%. Bioassays were performed with three replicates, repeated three times with different mosquito generations under controlled laboratory conditions (24±2°C, 70±10% RH, and a 12L:12D photoperiod). Choice tests in a 30x30x30cm cloth cage with 25 males and 25 females assessed the attraction index of three fruit juice-based ATSBs: “Kilo guava”, “Karathakolomban mango”, and “Mauritius pineapple”. Pineapple juice- ASB exhibited the highest attraction index and was selected for further evaluation. The pineapple juice-ASB, augmented with 4% boric acid, induced 90% mortality within 24 hours and 100% within 48 hours of exposure to Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. These findings highlight the efficacy of the pineapple juice-ASB with boric acid as a promising method for Ae. aegypti control in dengue-endemic regions, offering an innovative approach to vector management.