Susceptibility of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Southern Louisiana to Larval Insecticides

Mosquito control districts conduct rigorous insecticide treatments against both larval and adult Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae), the primary vector of West Nile virus in the southern United States. However, the development of resistant populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus in response to extensive larvicide or adulticide applications has been demonstrated repeatedly across the world. Examining changes in insecticide susceptibility in treated field areas can help inform mosquito control districts as to whether or not their treatments remain effective. We hypothesized that frequent insecticide applications for the control of mosquitoes in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, lowered susceptibility of wild Cx. quinquefasciatus to larvicides. Larvicide susceptibility was measured using Lysinibacillus sphaericus, spinosad, and temephos in populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus sampled from sites in three Parishes where frequencies of insecticide applications varied, and frequencies of resistance were measured relative to a susceptible reference colony. Susceptibility to these larvicides was widespread, although fourfold resistance to the organophosphate temephos was detected at one site in East Baton Rouge Parish in the spring of 2016, which increased to eightfold resistance by the end of the mosquito season. Activities of esterases were found to be elevated in wild, temephos-resistant mosquitoes, indicating the potential role of these enzymes as a mechanism of resistance. The results of this study provide a baseline of comparison for future measurements of susceptibility in Cx. quinquefasciatus in Louisiana, and may help inform local mosquito control districts as to the effectiveness and sustainability of their insecticide programs.