Effects of long-lasting pyriproxyfen formulation on biotic attractant factors for egg-laying in <i>Aedes aegypti</i> and <i>Aedes albopictus</i> (Diptera: Culicidae)

: The attractive baited lethal ovitrap, an autocidal ovitrap, is an alternative tool to control mosquitoes by attracting ovipositing females to lay their eggs in artificial containers. Ovitrap attracts female mosquitoes by biotic factors, such as larval food and conspecific larvae. Long-lasting matrix-release formulations containing 2% pyriproxyfen, SumiLarv ® 2MR, are less harmful to the environment and can effectively reduce targeted mosquitoes for at least six months. We examined the effects of SumiLarv ® 2MR on attraction of Aedes aegypti (L.) and Ae. albopictus (Skuse) to biotic factors, such as larval food and conspecific larvae, by two-choice tests. For both species, no significant difference arose between water containing SumiLarv ® 2MR and water alone. Both species laid more eggs in cups with larval food prepared two days before, and the attraction to the food was not affected by pyriproxyfen. Conspecific larvae of both species did not show attraction clearly but pyriproxyfen might increase attraction to conspecifics in Ae. albopictus . SumiLarv ® 2MR did not deter gravid females of both species and did not reduce the effects of the larval food, suggesting that SumiLarv ® 2MR is a promising formulation for lethal ovitraps.