Bottle Bioassay
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On April 16, 2007, our Department hosted a two-day Bottle
Bioassay Seminar, which was led and conducted by Dr. Jack
Petersen of PHEREC (Public Health Entomology Research &
Education Center) based in Panama City, Florida. The Seminar was provided to us free of charge by PHEREC. Surrounding Mosquito Control Departments were invited to attend. Mosquito Control personnel from Citrus and Sumter counties participated in the seminar, along with Hernando County's surveillance techs and the Department's Director. |
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WHAT IS A BIOASSAY?
Simply put, with regard to mosquitoes, a bioassay is a test run to see if specific amounts of chemical (insecticide) are effective against (to kill) mosquitoes.
WHY DO WE DO
BIOASSAYS?
Bioassays are a simple, rapid test of the response of our mosquitoes to the
insecticides we are using to control them. We use "off-the-shelf" insecticides
in our bioassays because those are the products we rely on to get the job done.
WHAT BENEFIT DO BIOASSAYS PROVIDE?
When done properly and frequently, bioassays provide an early warning of
decreased effectiveness due to insecticide resistance. The outcome of repeated
bioassays is a useful management tool providing timely information to the field
supervisor about how well the products we buy are performing.
In some cases, when resistance is found in tested mosquitoes, it is necessary to change to an insecticide with a different chemical base (active ingredient).
Pictures of Bottle Bioassay Workshop
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| Mosquitoes that were collected in the field for the experiment | Drawing and measuring chemical to be used in experiment | ||
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| Dr. Petersen showing how to prepare bottles for experiment | More preparing | Mosquitoes in test bottle | |
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Our Staff participates in workshops and seminars throughout the year to remain up-to-date and current on procedures and practices that will help us provide the best possible mosquito control to the residents of Hernando County. |
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15400 Wiscon Rd., Brooksville, Florida 34601 Phone: 352-540-6552 Peter Taylor- Director