INFLUENCE OF LOCATION AND DISTANCE OF BIOGENTS SENTINEL (TM) TRAPS FROM HUMAN-OCCUPIED EXPERIMENTAL HUTS ON AEDES AEGYPTI RECAPTURE AND ENTRY INTO HUTS

A mark-release-recapture study was conducted to refine the push-pull'' strategy for controlling the dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus vector Aedes aegypti in a peridomestic environment by determining optimal locations and distances from human-occupied experimental huts for placement of the pull'' component (Biogents Sentinel (TM) [BGS] traps) to maximize the capture of mosquitoes. The BGS traps were placed at portals of entry (windows or doors) or corners of the experimental huts and at varying distances from the huts (0, 3, and 10 m). The location optimization trials revealed higher trap capture rates and reduction in entry of mosquitoes when the BGS traps were positioned nearer the experimental hut portals of entry than those placed in the corner of the huts. The trap capture rate at huts' portals of entry was 38.7% (116/300), while the corners recorded 23.7% (71/300). The percentage reduction in entry of mosquitoes into the huts was 69% and 31% at portals of entry and corners or vertices, respectively. In the distance optimization trials, the highest captures were recorded at 0 m (18.5%; 111/600) and 10 m (14.2%; 128/900) distances from the hut. Moreover, the highest percentage reduction in entry of mosquitoes into the huts occurred for traps set at 0 m (65.6%) compared with 3 m (17.2%) or 10 m (14.6%) distances from the huts.