Reduction of nymphal Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) in a residential suburban landscape by area application of insecticides

Abstract

Seven formulations of three commercially available insecticides were evaluated for their ability to reduce the density of nymphal deer ticks (Ixodes dammini Spielman, Clifford, Piesman & Corwin) in a suburban residential area endemic for Lyme disease. In total, 101 residential properties in Mount Kisco, Westchester County, NY, were treated with one of the following: carbaryl emulsifiable concentrate (EC) at 0.6 or 1.1 kg AI/ha, carbaryl granular (GR) at 4.5 kg AI/ha, chlorpyrifos wettable powder (WP) at 0.6 or 1.1 kg AI/ha, chlorpyrifos GR at 1.1 kg AI/ha, or cyfluthrin EC at 0.1 kg AI/ha. All three chemicals were found to reduce the density of nymphs on treated properties significantly compared with untreated controls. Percentage of reduction of nymphs ranged from 67.9% for carbaryl EC 1.1 kg AI/ha to 97.4% for chlorpyrifos WP 1.1 kg AI/ha. There was no difference in the amount of reduction provided by each formulation of the same chemical, but carbaryl formulations were significantly less effective than chlorpyrifos or cyfluthrin. Nymphal densities after treatment remained low throughout the course of the study, indicating that a single well-timed spring application is sufficient to provide significant reduction of nymphs for an entire transmission season.