OA19949A - Bait stations for biting flies in bloodseeking mode and methods therein. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses devices for a durable insect bait station for biting flies in bloodseeking mode and methods therein. The devices include: an elastomeric membrane for providing access to the bait station, the elastomeric membrane adapted to be permeable to volatile components, and the elastomeric membrane configured to allow easy insect-probe penetration for biting flies in blood-seeking mode; a bait core for providing bait to the bait station, the bait core including. at least one blood-feeding stimulant (BFS) for inducing feeding of the biting flies on the bait core; and at least one insect toxin; wherein the bait core is configured to be substantially in direct contact with the elastomeric membrane; and a support element for attaching the elastomeric membrane and the bait core to a fixed structure. Alternatively, the BFS for inducing the feeding is operative at an ambient temperature below an average mammal temperature.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The présent invention relates to bait stations for biting flies in blood-seeking mode (particularly mosquitoes of the généra Aedes, Culex, and Anopheles’, sand flies; and biting midges) and methods therein.

Biting flies are known for their blood-feeding behavior, which makes them vectors of pathogens. However, while female biting flies predominantly need blood for egg production, and sugar as their main source of energy, most male biting Aies do not feed on blood, and are completely dépendent on sugar.

Currently, bait stations are one of the most interesting and promising insect control techniques. A bait station is a device that is installed in a way that the targeted insects can feed on the bait, either outdoors or indoors.

Typical prior-art bait is a viscous substance or aqueous-gel mixture having an attractant, a substance that the insect uses as food (e.g., sugar or a carbohydrate solution), and a toxin (e.g., boric acid, spinosad, and dinotefùran). The bait formulation may further include preservatives and colorants. Such lures attract insects to feed on the bait, while the toxin enters the insect body during feeding (either by ingestion or contact), causing its death.

The référencés of Foster (1995 and 1997, see full reference in Literature section below for which ail référencés therein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety) support the existence of a bimodal behavior for such biting flies with regard to foraging activity - that is, blood foraging versus sugar foraging. Specifically, it is understood that such biting flies hâve a different behavioral response to sensory eues when foraging for blood hosts versus sugar sources.

As stated by Christophers in 1960, sugar feeding is “not associated with the violent impulses and zest that characterize desire for blood.” Yuval (1992) States:

“Sugar feeding is an opportunistic, non-random, circadian activity undertaken by most mosquitoes to satisfy their energy requirements. Its expression is species spécifie, molded by the environment in which each species evolved and modulated by hierarchical interactions with other physiological and behavioral processes. Better knowledge of the mechanisms which govern expression of this activity may be usefùl in controlling vectors of disease.”

It has been shown that generalizations can be made across various species of bloodsucking Aies that are sugar-feeding, indicative of predictability in the art with regard to this aspect. A hierarchy of attraction eues has been shown which agréés largely with the model presented by Bradbury and Bennett (1974), emphasizing the rôle of visual eues in close-range attraction..

However, as stated by Yuval, the “hierarchical interactions with other physiological and behavioral processes” may indicate that the mode of foraging (blood vs. sugar) also may shift the relative importance of such eues. Yuval refers to the model proposed by Roitberg and Friend (1992) on “A General Theory for Host Seeking Decisions in Mosquitoes.” Roitberg and Friend state:

“Nectar and blood hosts are both initially located on the basis oftheir odours (e.g. Vargo and Foster, 1982). Once within close range, visual eues may be used as well. Upon landing on a host, different search tactics are employed as a conséquence of différences in location. Nectar is generally concentrated at a single source (e.g. flower nectary) whereas blood is much more evenly distributed throughout the host.”

The requirement for sugar-feeding influences longevity, fecundity, dispersai, hostseeking behavior, and ultimately blood-feeding that facilitâtes disease transmission, as known in the art (see Literature section). Biting Aies do not fînd sugar sources randomly; they rather search for sugar sources actively by following olfactory eues.

This dependence on sugar of biting Aies was only recently exploited for control measurements. In recent times, attractive, toxic, sugar baits were developed to attract and kill biting Aies in the field. These baits basically include an attractive component, sugar as a feeding stimulant, and an oral toxin. Currently, bait stations are one of the most interesting and promising insect control techniques.

In the prior art, US Patent No. 8,420,070 (with common inventors and ownership to the présent invention, and is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety) teaches methods for controlling insects by providing an insect bait adapted to attract the insects, and to effect the insects to feed on the insect bait, mediated by an olfactory-cue-based attractant, in which the insect bait lacks an active visual-cue element for a biting-Ay sugar-source-foraging behavior-mode.

Since typical prior-art bait is a viscous substance or aqueous-gel mixture as mentioned above, a major drawback of prior-art bait technologies is the sensitivity to outdoor environments, such as sunlight, dust, rain, dew, and cold Aow due to gravity. Cold Aow of bait causes loss of material and uneven distribution along the dimensions of the bait. Baits having no outer, protective film tend to accumulate dust that sticks to the bait, while the sunlight’s radiation (particularly in the UV range) can cause severe dégradation over a period of time of outdoor exposure.

US Patent No. 9,220,255 (with common ownership to the présent invention, and is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety) teaches bait stations having elastomeric membranes for providing access to the bait stations in which the membranes are adapted to be permeable to volatile components, and configured to allow easy insect-probe pénétration for mosquitoes and other biting Aies, and configured to be résistant to dégradation caused by ultraviolet (UV) exposure. The bait stations include a bait core for providing bait to the bait station in which the bait core includes a sugar-source bait.

In prior-art studies (see Literature section) in the absence of a suitable attractant, a nonattracting, toxic sugar solution was initially sprayed on flowering plants. Mosquitoes were attracted by the scent of the flowers, and fed on the sugar solution, consequently resulting in death. While effective in controlling mosquitoes, this method required bait application to be dépendent on locating suitable flowering plants. Furthermore, the impact on “non-target” flower-visiting insects such as bees and other pollinators was very high.

Fermenting the fruit with wine or beer for a few days mitigated this limitation. The resulting attractants proved to be highly effective for the control of Aies; however, the same attractants exhibited poor long-term stability in field studies, as well as poor shelf life for a commercializable product. Furthermore, the availability of over-ripe fruit in industrial quantities with a persistent quality, and the standardization of the fermentation process posed additional problems. In addition, fermented fruit and their extracted products attracted not only biting Aies, but also non-target insects in some areas such as non-biting Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera.

WO Patent Publication No. 2015/114619 (with common inventors and ownership to the present invention, and is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety) recites methods for selectively attracting biting Aies using bait stations having a date-derived syrup product, while discriminately not attracting non-target insects.

While such advances in the state of the art hâve ushered in greater effectiveness, efficiency, control, suitability, longevity, and selectivity for technical solutions in mitigating insect populations, the above technologies focus on biting Aies while exclusively in their sugarforaging mode, as opposed to blood-foraging or blood-seeking mode. Moreover, biting-Ay populations are becorning harder to control due to acquired résistance from frequent exposure to commonly-used contact insect toxins.

It would be désirable to hâve bait stations for biting Aies in blood-seeking mode and methods therein. Such bait stations and methods would, inter alia, overcome the limitations mentioned above.

SUMMARY

It is the purpose of the présent invention to provide bait stations for biting Aies in bloodseeking mode (particularly mosquitoes of the généra Aedes, Culex, and Anopheles, sand Aies; and biting midges) and methods therein.

It is noted that the term “exemplary” is used herein to refer to examples of embodiments and/or implémentations, and is not meant to necessarily convey a more-desirable use-case. Similarly, the terms “alternative” and “altematively” are used herein to refer to an example out of an assortment of contemplated embodiments and/or implémentations, and is not meant to necessarily convey a more-desirable use-case. Therefore, it is understood from the above that “exemplary” and “alternative” may be applied herein to multiple embodiments and/or implémentations. Various combinations of such alternative and/or exemplary embodiments are also contemplated herein.

The use of blood or artificial blood (i.e., blood substitutes or surrogates) in laboratory environments for feeding experimental biting Aies has been shown to require that the blood meal always be heated to about 37-38°C in order to induce feeding.

Currently, there is no evidence nor suggestion that biting Aies can be induced to feed at ail at températures below about 37°C. Rather, numerous published studies hâve shown (see Literature section and references therein) that efficient feeding of blood meals to test specimens in laboratory settings for conducting experimental research and other controlled studies on biting Aies require such a minimum threshold température to be met. Otherwise, as températures falls below this critical threshold, feeding abruptly drops to virtually zéro. It is presumed that the heating of the blood meal is required in order to better simulate the host environment for feeding on real blood hosts, as opposed to simulated hosts.

Embodiments of the présent invention surprisingly enable the use of various BloodFeeding Stimulants (BFSs) to induce blood-feeding Aies to feed on the hait core of a durable insect bait station (seiwing as a simulated host) when such insects are in blood-seeking mode in which the BFS is operative at an ambient température below an average mammal température. With regard to BFSs, blood-feeding insects can be classified into three groups.

1. Insects responding to adenosine nucléotides - adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or diphosphate (ADP), depending on the genus (e.g., maximal response of the Culex genus is to ADP, while maximal response of the Aedes genus is for ATP).

2. Insects responding to the tonicity of the solutions - the sandAy Lutzomyia longipalpis and species of the Anopheles genus (An. freeborni, An. stephensi, and An. gambiae) will feed on isotonie solutions supplemented with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCCh) or albumin, respectively.

3. Insects responding in an intermediate fashion from the other two groups above - such insects (e.g., the Aea Xenopsylla cheopis) respond to tonicity, but also require ATP or ADP for a fiill feeding response.

Some embodiments of the présent invention employ various Blood-Feeding Lures (BFLs) to attract or lure blood-feeding insects to the bait station when such insects are in bloodseeking mode. The BFLs utilized include:

> carbon dioxide - a universal activator/orientator for ail blood-feeding insects, > lactic acid - an activating and orientating stimulus for some mosquitoes, especially if carbon dioxide is also présent in the airstream, and > octenol, acetone, ammonia, butanone, fatty acids (e.g., hexanoic acid), indole, 6methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and phenolic components of urine.

In practice, BFLs having short-chain molécules are preferred. While biting Aies generally prefer longer-chain molécules (particularly with fatty acids), long-chain molécules 5 tend to be unstable and décomposé quickly, making such BFL compounds impractical for use in durable bait stations.

Some embodiments of the présent invention employ various netting components (e.g., a bed net, an aperture-screen housing, a screen, and a mesh). The use of bed nets and longlasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) has been employed as an effective way to prevent 10 malaria. LLINs provide a double effect, working as a physical barrier preventing the mosquitoes from reaching their prey (i.e., the host), but also as a Chemical barrier, with the insecticide repelling the mosquitoes, or killing them when the mosquitoes enter into contact with the net.

Embodiments of the présent invention provide highly-effective means for killing blood15 questing résistant mosquitoes and biting flies. Consequently, such embodiments can be considered a major tool for ameliorating public health. Moreover, by especially targeting résistant mosquitoes and biting flies, such embodiments can be regarded as a unique tool for preventing the propagation of existing résistance, and avoiding the development of new résistances to contact toxins. Such embodiments serve as a “host replacement” for biting flies.

Furthermore, such embodiments enable a large array of agricultural pesticides, gut toxins to be employed, which otherwise cannot be utilized for adult mosquito/biting fly control.

Therefore, according to the présent invention, there is provided for the first time a device for a durable insect bait station for biting flies in blood-seeking mode, the device including: (a) an elastomeric membrane for providing access to the bait station, the elastomeric 25 membrane adapted to be permeable to volatile components, and the elastomeric membrane configured to allow easy insect-probe pénétration for biting flies in blood-seeking mode; (b) a bait core for providing bait to the bait station, the bait core including: (i) at least one bloodfeeding stimulant (BFS) for inducing feeding of the biting flies on the bait core; and (ii) at least one insect toxin; wherein the bait core is configured to be substantially in direct contact with 5 the elastomeric membrane; and (c) a support element for attaching the elastomeric membrane and the bait core to a fixed structure.

Altematively, the elastomeric membrane: (i) has a thickness of less than 100 microns and a hardness of less than 60 Shore A; (ii) is configured to be résistant to dégradation caused by ultraviolet (UV) exposure; and/or (iii) is composed of at least one elastomeric material 10 selected from the group consisting of: polydimethyl siloxanes (PDMS) polymers, silicone rubber, hydrogenated block styrene-ethylene butylènes (SEBS), and block styrene isoprene (SIBS).

Altematively, the bait core is free of any whole blood-source agent.

Altematively, the bait core is free of any sugar-source agent.

Altematively, the bait core is adapted to elicit an extended contact time of the biting flies with the elastomeric membrane and/or the bait core.

Most altematively, the extended contact time is greater than double the contact time of the biting flies in the absence of the bait core.

Altematively, the BFS for inducing the feeding is operative at an ambient température 20 below an average mammal température.

Altematively, the BFS for inducing the feeding is operative at an ambient température below 37°C.

Altematively, the BFS for inducing the feeding is operative on at least one biting-fly type selected from the group consisting of: mosquitoes of the généra Aedes, Culex, and 25 Anopheles, sand flies; and biting midges.

Alternatively, the BFS is at least one component selected from the group consisting of:

adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP).

Alternatively, the insect toxin includes an oral, gut insect toxin.

Alternatively, the bait core is free of any contact insect toxin.

Alternatively, the insect toxin is selected from the group consisting of: dinotefüran, a Chemical toxin, a biological toxin, a bacterial agent, a fùngal agent, and an entomopathogenic agent.

Alternatively, the oral insect gut toxin includes at least one carrier agent selected from the group consisting of: sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCCh), a waterretaining agent, and a gel.

Alternatively, the fixed structure is a netting component configured to act as a barrier to prevent the biting flies from penetrating the netting.

Most alternatively, the netting component includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a bed net, an aperture-screen housing, a screen component, and a mesh component.

Alternatively, the support element includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of: an adhesive material, a fibrous material, a strap, a hook, a connecter, a magnet, and a mounting hole.

Alternatively, the bait core further includes: (iii) at least one blood-feeding lure (BFL).

More alternatively, the BFL includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of: carbon dioxide, lactic acid, octenol, acetone, ammonia, butanone, fatty acids, hexanoic acid, indole, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and a phenolic component of urine.

More alternatively, the BFL is operative to create a BFL-rich gaseous environment in the vicinity of the bait core.

Most alternatively, the BFL-rich gaseous environment is présent in the vicinity of the fixed structure.

Alternatively, the device further includes: (d) an optical target for the biting Aies.

Most alternatively, the optical target has a dark external appearance relative to the fixed structure.

According to the présent invention, there is provided for the first time a method for providing a durable insect bait station for biting Aies in blood-seeking mode, the method including the steps of: (a) providing an elastomeric membrane for access to the bait station, wherein the elastomeric membrane is adapted to be permeable to volatile components, and wherein the elastomeric membrane is configured to allow easy insect-probe pénétration for biting flies in blood-seeking mode; (b) formulating a bait core for providing bait to the bait station, wherein the bait core includes: (i) at least one blood-feeding stimulant (BFS) for inducing feeding of the biting flies on the bait core; and (ii) at least one insect toxin; wherein the bait core is configured to be substantially in direct contact with the elastomeric membrane; and (c) providing a support element for attaching the elastomeric membrane and the bait core to a fixed structure.

According to the présent invention, there is provided for the first time a method for providing a durable insect bait station for biting flies in blood-seeking mode, the method including the step of: (a) applying an elastomeric membrane to be substantially in direct contact with a bait core, wherein the elastomeric membrane adapted to be permeable to volatile components, and wherein the elastomeric membrane configured to allow easy insect-probe pénétration for biting flies in blood-seeking mode, and wherein the bait core includes: (i) at least one blood-feeding stimulant (BFS) for inducing feeding of the biting Aies on the bait core; (ii) at least one insect toxin; and (iii) a support element for attaching the elastomeric membrane and the bait core to a fixed structure.

These and further embodiments will be apparent from the detailed description and examples that follow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The présent invention relates to devices for bait stations for biting Aies in blood-seeking mode and methods therein. The principles and operation for providing such devices and methods, according to the présent invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description. Exemplary embodiments of the présent invention are detailed below in the following experimental studies and results.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES

Preliminary cage experiments:

Rectangular cages (Ixlxl m) made from métal frames covered with gauze, with two sleeved openings, were used to perform preliminary experiments. A simple fiat sub strate served as the support for the bait station (15x15 cm) having a 3:1 ratio mixture of ATP to ADP, respectively, at a concentration of 1 mM (W/V, weight to volume concentration), as a bloodfeeding stimulant (BFS) for the biting Aies was found to exhibit the best engorgement response comparable to whole human blood.

A concentration of 0.1% W/V of dinotefiiran as a gut toxin was included in the baitcore formulation with the BFS. Finally, sodium chloride (NaCl) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCCE) at effective concentrations totaling 0.8%-l% W/V of the solutés were also included in the Anal formulation with a water-retaining gel. The Anal bait-core formulation was then covered by a directly-contacting, black, pierceable membrane.

It is noted that a range of about 0.25mM to about 1.5mM of both ATP and ADP at ratios ranging between about 3:1 to about 1:1, with final formulation concentrations of phosphorylated adenosines between about 0.5mM to about 3 mM can be used. In addition,

NaCl (for controlling pH) and sodium bicarbonate at effective concentrations totaling about

0.8% to about 1% of the solutés in the final formulation in order to hâve a bioavailable concentration in the gel that is isotonie.

Furthermore, effective concentrations of toxins vary with the toxin employed. As examples, for dinotefuran, a concentration of about 0.03% to about 0.25% can be used. For linseed oil a concentration of about 0.05% to about 0.3% can be used. For sodium dodecyl sulfate, a concentration of about 0.05% to about 0.25% can be used. Similarly, a suitablyidentified concentration of boric acid or spinosad can be employed. Moreover, suitable contact toxins, without an exhibited toxin résistance (discussed below), can be used as well.

In the preliminary cage experiments, the bait stations with gut toxin killed 85.3% of the exposed female Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex trial-specimens overnight while in the cages (with more or less equal effectiveness for 10 répétitions, N: 1,000). Similar bait stations without the gut toxin resulted in only 7.1% lethality of the exposed female Aedes, Anopheles, and Cidex trial-specimens being killed (with more or less equal response for 10 répétitions, N: 1,000).

Patch experiments:

The simple bait station configuration described above in the preliminary cage experiments served as the basis for ail the following experiments. The substrate, BFS/toxin bait, and membrane combination is referred to hereinafter as the “basic patch.”

A sériés of patch experiments were conducted using basic patches having various membrane colors as the only différence between trials. The patches were tested in the rectangular cages described above. The patch colors tested black, red, blue, yellow, and white. Patches with darkly-colored membranes (i.e., black, red, and blue) attracted and killed signifîcantly more biting flies than lightly-colored patches (i.e., yellow and white).

A sériés of patch experiments were conducted using black-membrane, basic patches of various sizes as the only différence between trials. Larger patches attracted and killed significantly more biting Aies than smaller patches. The biting Aies were indifferent to patch shape.

Release-chamber control experiments:

Ail the following experiments were conducted in experimental chambers (4x7x3 m) used as release chambers in the insectary of the laboratories of Westham Ltd. in Israël. The environmental conditions were: a température of 27°C, a relative humidity of 80%, and a photoperiod of 16:8 hours (light: dark).

Within the release chambers, human volunteers remained inside a bed net overnight (18:00 to 6:00) outside the direct reach of the released insects, such volunteers served as the attracting hosts for the insects. Bed nets used for the experiments were impregnated with pyrethroids (purchased locally in Mali). Bed nets fulfill two purposes. On one hand, bed nets physically separate biting Aies from a person inside the net (i.e., provide personal protection). On the other, if impregnated with a contact toxin, bed nets kill biting Aies while attempting to And the blood host (i.e., provide general protection). The second aspect of the bed nets is important for public-health reasons in order to reduce the overall population of blood-questing mosquitoes and other biting Aies, which carry diseases.

The released Culex pipiens trial-specimens used were résistant to pyrethroids in order to demonstrate a well-known fact regarding toxin résistance in biting Aies. The trial-specimens were provided with ad libitum access to . water and a 10% sucrose solution prior to the experiments, but without access to a blood meal (i.e., 24-hr. blood starvation period). Ail Aies were discarded after being used in a single experiment (i.e., no repeated use of experimental Aies).

To retrieve the: deceased biting Aies for counting after the experiments were conducted, the Aoor of the room was covered prior to the release of the biting Aies with white cotton sheets. The morning following the experiments, the biting Aies were collected at 11:00 to 12:00, and the remaining live biting Aies were “knocked down” later inside the same rooms with ethyl acetate, and retrieved for counting from 13:00 to 15:00.

TOXIN-RESISTANCE CONTROL-STUDY RESULTS:

A “control patch” was used having the same characteristics as the basic patch described above in the preliminary cage experiments, except for the absence of a BFS. Using the release chambers and Ay trial-specimens described above, an average daily survival rate of 78.5% of released female Culexpipiens trial-specimens was found for 5 ovemight trials (N: 1,000). The high survival rate indicates that the résistance of the Culex against a contact pesticide on the bed net negates public-health effects of the bed nets.

TOXIN-RESISTANCE BFS-STUDY RESULTS:

To overcome the negating effect of toxin résistance, a “BFS-inftised patch” incorporated into a bait station was configured to be mounted on any type of netting component (e.g., a bed net, a window screen, an aperture-screen housing, a screen component, and a mesh component), on the opposite side in which human or animal (e.g., cattle) blood hosts are located, serve as a lure for attracting biting Aies in blood-seeking mode. The bait station (either Aat or three-dimensional) contained a BFS and a gut toxin within a carrier agent (e.g., a liquid gel or solid material) that can be penetrated by the proboscis of the biting Aies covered with a directly-contacting, pierceable membrane.

The importance of using a gut toxin is emphasized to underscore the fact that such toxins provides a different mode of action than a contact toxin, which the biting Aies can develop, or hâve already developed, a résistance to the effects of such contact toxins rendering such toxin agents ineffective.

In the second toxin-resistance study, the same type of experiments as in the toxinresistance control study was conducted, releasing same type and number of mosquitoes. However, a BFS-infused patch, having the same characteristics as the basic patch described above in the preliminary cage experiments, was used outside the bed net. In the toxin-resistance BFS study, an average daily survival rate of 38.6% of released female Culex pipiens trial specimens was found for 5 ovemight trials (N: 1,000) - a significantly-reduced survival rate in comparison to the toxin-resistance control study.

It is clear from the above that the effect of toxin résistance in biting Aies is signifîcant. The same general phenomenon applies to other pyrethrum-resistant blood-feeders as well. In the remaining experiments described below, the biting-Ay trial-specimens used had no toxin résistance.

BFS experiments:

The feeding of various biting Aies (Mosquitoes - Aedes albopictus, Culexpipiens, and Anopheles sergentir, sand Aies - Phlebotomuspapatasi-, and biting midges - Culicoides sp.) a BFS-inftised patch versus a control patch was studied in which the release chambers were maintained at ambient room température conditions (25°C). The BFS experiments were conducted using non-resistant biting Aies and with non-impregnated bed nets.

Préparation of the biting-Ay trial-specimens and their blood-meal starvation regimen was performed in an identical manner to the procedures described above. The BFS formulation and concentration used in the BFS-infused patch was identical to the procedure in the preliminary cage experiments described above. The control patch only differed from the BFSinfused patch in that the control patch lacked any BFS (i.e., no BFS présent).

The BFS-infused and control patches were placed on the exterior surface of the bed net.

Both patches were externally affixed to the bed net for each trial, providing the biting flies with equal opportunity to access either bait station. The bait cores (i.e., the BFS, toxin, and carrier agent) in the patches were stained with different food dye colors in order to verify whether the biting flies fed on the patches. The gut area of the biting flies could be readily observed externally to exhibit the color of the dye for a given patch, if the bait core material was ingested by the biting flies.

Experiments were conducted overnight with 10 releases of 200 female biting flies per trial (N: 2,000). Female biting flies were released inside the experimental huts with a sleeping human host under a bed net. Biting flies could not reach the sleeping subjects in order to obtain a blood meal due to the protection provided by the bed net.

BFS EXPERIMENT RESULTS:

Results obtained from patch-feeding trials involving Anopheles sergentii with and without a BFS are presented in Table 1.

Release trial	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total
Release amount	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	2,000
Patch feeding (w/BFS)	29	37	45	26	15	43	25	73	62	43	398
Patch feeding (w/o BFS)	3	2	12	4	7	9	10	19	27	11	104

Table 1. Results obtained from patch-feeding trials involving Anopheles sergentii with a BFS (BFS-infused patch) and without a BFS (control patch).

Feeding rates for Anopheles on the BFS-infused patches were approximately 3.8 times greater in total than on the control patches without a BFS. The average contact times with the BFS-infused patches for Anopheles were approximately 3.5 times greater than the average contact times for the control patches, as measured by video-monitoring assessment.

Results obtained from patch-feeding trials involving Culexpipiens with and without a

BFS are presented in Table 2.

Release trial	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total
Release amount	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	2,000
Patch feeding (w/BFS)	15	81	65	72	49	41	66	38	75	40	542
Patch feeding (w/o BFS)	6	4	9	2	5	0	17	5	6	3	57

Table 2. Results obtained from patch-feeding trials involving Culexpipiens with a BFS (BFS-infused patch) and without a BFS (control patch).

Feeding rates for Culex on the BFS-infused patches were approximately 9.5 times greater in total than on the control patches without a BFS. The average contact times with the BFS-infused patches for Culex were approximately 5.5 times greater than the average contact times for the control patches, as measured by video-monitoring assessment.

Results obtained from patch-feeding trials involving sand fries (Phlebotomuspapatasi') with and without a BFS are presented in Table 3.

Release trial	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total
Release amount	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	2,000
Patch feeding (w/BFS)	31	22	51	19	40	15	9	64	36	57	344
Patch feeding (w/o BFS)	5	1	5	2	5	3	4	10	11	6	52

Table 3. Results obtained from patch-feeding trials involving sand fries with a BFS (BFSinfused patch) and without a BFS (control patch).

Feeding rates for sand fries on the BFS-infused patches were approximately 6.6 times greater in total than on the control patches without a BFS. The average contact times with the 15 BFS-infused patches for sand fries were approximately 4.4 times greater than the average contact times for the control patches, as measured by video-monitoring assessment.

Results obtained from patch-feeding trials involving Aedes albopictus with and without a BFS are presented in Table 4.

Release trial	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total
Release amount	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	2,000
Patch feeding (w/BFS)	18	10	9	15	7	23	20	8	15	6	131
Patch feeding (w/o BFS)	2	1	0	2	1	5	3	5	4	1	24

Table 4. Results obtained from patch-feeding trials involving Aedes albopictus with a BFS (BFS-infused patch) and without a BFS (control patch).

Feeding rates for Aedes on the BFS-infused patches were approximately 5.5 times greater in total than on the control patches without a BFS. The average contact times with the BFS-infused patches for Aedes were approximately 4.2 times greater than the average contact times for the control patches, as measured by video-monitoring assessment.

Results obtained from patch-feeding trials involving biting midges (CuHcoides sp.) with and without a BFS are presented in Table 5.

Release trial	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total
Release amount	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	2,000
Patch feeding (w/BFS)	17	5	4	6	10	11	10	24	8	15	110
Patch feeding (w/o BFS)	3	0	1	0	2	2	0	0	1	0	24

Table 5. Results obtained from patch-feeding trials involving biting midges (Cuhcoides sp.) with a BFS (BFS-infused patch) and without a BFS (control patch).

Feeding rates for biting midges on the BFS-infused patches were approximately 4.6 times greater in total than on the control patches without a BFS. The average contact times with 15 the BFS-infused patches for biting midges were approximately 3.9 times greater than the average contact times for the control patches, as measured by video-monitoring assessment.

Surprisingly, in ail the above BFS experiments, the biting Aies were induced to feed from the bait stations in the presence of the BFS without the need to hâve the température of the bait core be at the température of an average mammal in order to simulate a real host.

BFL experiments:

The addition of a Blood-Feeding Lure (BFL) to attract or lure blood-feeding flies to the bait station when such fries are in blood-seeking mode was also investigated. It was observed in general that BFLs only achieve their full potential as Chemical attractants when employed in combination with CO2, which can be provided by human subjects, animal subjects, or other CO2 other sources.

Lactic acid, for example, is significantly more effective in stimulating host-seeking biting flies when CO2 is also présent for Aedes aegypti. Because CO2 induces and maintains flight, biting flies may be reluctant to terminate flight and land under such conditions, particularly in the absence of other odors.

The luring effect is further enhanced by the addition of a dark external appearance to the patch used (relative to the surrounding structure). In the studies conducted, a black patch was compared to a white patch as the optical target, with a white bed net serving as the surrounding structure.

A systematic fünctional analysis for biting flies across the conventional odorant receptor répertoire indicates that each odorant receptor manifests a distinct odor-response profile and tuning breadth. The large diversity of tuning responses ranges from odorant receptors that are responsive to a single or small number of odorants (“specialists”) to more broadly-tuned receptors (“generalists”).

The additive effects of the various BFLs and optical targets can be understood as being part of a cascade response behavior to guide the blood-foraging of the biting flies toward the bait station. Input from a single spécifie odor (i.e., an odor specialist), such as CO2, is adéquate to induce a response behavior for biting-fly orientation. In this context, the CO2 receptor can be considered a “labeled line.” The input from several such odor specialists (e.g., receptors for lactic acid, CO2, and température, and possibly, receptors for as-yet-unidentified host odors) is necessary to evoke the complété response behavior leading the biting Ay to the location and identification of an intact host. Such insights need to be carefully considered when using a bait station as a simulated host for biting fries in blood-seeking mode.

Patch placement experiments:

A pair of thermoreceptor units at the tip of the antennae of various biting Aies (e.g., the sensilla coeloconica on Aedes aegypti) exhibit a strong température sensitivity. Such pairs typically hâve one receptor that is warm-sensitive, responding with a phasic-tonic increase in spike frequency to sudden increases in température. The second thermoreceptor is typically cold-sensitive, responding with a phasic-tonic increase in spike activity to sudden decreases in température.

In a sériés of experiments, the optimum location on a bed net to mount a patch was investigated. Maximum phasic sensitivity is observed in response to température changes of ±0.2°C, but the thermoreceptors can respond to changes as low as 0.05°C.

Warm, moist convection currents emanating from a host are important host-seeking eues to biting Aies in blood-seeking mode. Such convection currents hâve been shown to hâve local thermal differentials of as much as 0.05°C exist at distances greater than two meters away from a host (a 2- to 3-kg rabbit was used in the studies). Such température changes are well within the range of détection of the thermoreceptors of the biting Aies.

The mosquitoes in the studies were found to preferably feed predominantly on patches that were affixed to the upper part of the bed nets as opposed to the lower part (i.e., patches mounted 1.5 m above the ground had greater activity than 0.5 m above the ground). Sand flies were found to prefer to feed on low-mounted patches.

Two-chambeir experiments:

In a sériés of experiments, survival rates of biting flies in a “two-chamber” arrangement was investigated. The two chambers were separated by a screened window. In one chamber, a human subject was located, protected by the window screen. While in the second chamber, biting flies were questing for blood meals. A BFS-infused patch was mounted on the window screen in the second chamber in the experimental trials, while a control patch was mounted on the window screen in the second chamber in control trials. Mortality of the biting flies exposed to the BFS-infused patches was significantly higher (4.5 to 12.8 times greater) than biting flies exposed to the control patches without BFS infusion.

DURABLE BAIT STATIONS

Durable insect bait stations can be constructed from a substrate material that is used to support the bait core and a protective, semi-permeable, pierceable film, which encloses bait core. Suitable substrate materials and protective films assist in preventing érosion, sagging, and cold flow of the bait core as well as lowering surface tack.

Substrate materials can be mechanically-roughened materials (e.g., reinforced cardboard and plastic) as well as materials constructed to hâve high surface area (e.g., woven functional fabrics and meshes, open-pore foams, fibrous mats, corrugated materials, and “honeycomb” fabricated materials).

Furthermore, natural substrates can be found in the environments of the area in which one wants to utilize the attractants. For example, green végétation and similar foliage that are non-flowering, or are utilized when they are not in their flowering phase (in order not to attract * 19949 bees), are excellent substrates. Typically, such natural substrates hâve roughened or textured surfaces that are idéal for supporting such bait cores. In addition, such natural substrates eliminate any concem of generating any environmental waste by-product in the environment.

Protective films can be suitable polymeric materials (e.g., thermoplastics, thermosetting polymers, carbon black-filled butyl rubber, acrylic polymer, plasticized PVC, polyuréthanes, neoprene, natural rubber, and butadiene rubber). Such materials may contain elastomers (e.g., polydimethyl siloxanes (PDMS), silicone rubbers, silicone elastomers, silicone gels, ethylenevinyl acetate, ethylene-acrylic ester copolymers and terpolymers, ethylene-propylene rubber, plastomers such as ethylene-hexene and ethylene-octene copolymers, thermoplastic vulcanized rubber (TPV); hydrogenated block styrene-ethylene butylènes (SEBS); and block styrene isoprene (SIBS).

Such materials may further contain plasticizers (e.g., aliphatic polyesters) and light stabilizers (e.g., UV stabilizers), as well as other additives such as carbon black, pigments and dyes, fillers, and bactéricides, fiingicides, and other microbial-activity suppressants. Such 15 protective films assist in physically supporting the bait core in order to prevent sagging and cold flow, while allowing for effusion of volatile components of the bait core.

While the présent invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications, and other applications of the présent invention may be made.

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I

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Claims (25)

1. A device for a durable insect bait station for biting flies in blood-seeking mode, the device comprising:

(a) a protective membrane for providing access to the bait station, said protective membrane adapted to be permeable to volatile components, and said

5 protective membrane configured to allow easy insect-probe pénétration for biting flies in blood-seeking mode;

(b) a bait core for providing bait to the bait station, said bait core including:

(i) at least one blood-feeding stimulant (BFS) for inducing feeding of said biting flies on said bait core; and (ii) at least one insect toxin;

wherein said bait core is configured to be substantially in direct contact with said protective membrane; and (c) a support element for attaching said elastomeric membrane and said bait core to a fixed structure.

15 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said protective membrane:

(i) has a thickness of less than 100 microns and a hardness of less than 60 Shore A;

(ii) is configured to be résistant to dégradation caused by ultraviolet (UV) exposure; and/or

2® (iii) is composed of at least one polymeric material.

*1

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said bait core is free of any whole bloodsource agent.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said bait core is free of any sugar-source agent.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said bait core is adapted to elicit an extended contact time of said biting flies with said protective membrane and/or said bait core.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said extended contact time is greater than double the contact time of said biting flies in the absence of said bait core.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one BFS for inducing said feeding

4® is operative at an ambient température below an average mammal température.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one BFS for inducing said feeding is operative at an ambient température below 37°C.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one BFS for inducing said feeding is operative on at least one biting-fly type selected from the group consisting of: mosquitoes 15 of the généra Aedes, Culex, and Anopheles', sand flies; and biting midges.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one BFS is at least one component selected from the group consisting of: adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP).

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one insect toxin includes an oral, gut insect toxin.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said bait core is free of any contact insect toxin.

5

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one insect toxin is selected from the group consisting of: dinotefuran, a Chemical toxin, a biological toxin, a bacterial agent, a fungal agent, and an entomopathogenic agent.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one oral insect gut toxin includes at least one carrier agent selected from the group consisting of: sodium chloride (NaCl), T® sodium bicarbonate (NaHCOs), a water-retaining agent, and a gel.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said fixed structure is a netting component configured to act as a barrier to prevent said biting flies from penetrating said netting.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said netting component includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a bed net, an aperture-screen housing, a η c screen component, and a mesh component.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said support element includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of: an adhesive material, a fibrous material, a strap, a hook, a connecter, a magnet, and a mounting hole.

18. The device of claim 1, said bait core further including:

(iii) at least one blood-feeding lure (BFL).

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said at least one BFL includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of: carbon dioxide, lactic acid, octenol, 5 acetone, ammonia, butanone, fatty acids, hexanoic acid, indole, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and a phenolic component of urine.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein said at least one BFL is operative to create a BFL-rich gaseous environment in the vicinity of said bait core.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said BFL-rich gaseous environment is présent 1 ® in the vicinity of said fixed structure.

22. The device of claim 1, the device further comprising:

(d) an optical target for said biting Aies.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein said optical target has a dark external appearance relative to said Axed structure.

24. A method for providing a durable insect bait station for biting Aies in bloodseeking mode, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a protective membrane for access to the bait station, wherein said protective membrane is adapted to be permeable to volatile components, and wherein said protective membrane is configured to allow easy insect-probe pénétration for biting flies in blood-seeking mode;

(b) formulating a bait core for providing bait to the bait station, wherein said bait core includes:

5 (i) at least one blood-feeding stimulant (BFS) for inducing feeding of said biting flies on said bait core; and (ii) at least one insect toxin;

wherein said bait core is configured to be substantially in direct contact with said protective membrane; and

1® (c) providing a support element for attaching said protective membrane and said bait core to a fixed structure.

25. A method for providing a durable insect bait station for biting flies in bloodseeking mode, the method comprising the step of:

(a) applying a protective membrane to be substantially in direct contact with a bait

15 core, wherein said protective membrane adapted to be permeable to volatile components, and wherein said protective membrane configured to allow easy insect-probe pénétration for biting flies in blood-seeking mode, and wherein said bait core includes:

(i) at least one blood-feeding stimulant (BFS) for inducing feeding of said

2® biting flies on said bait core;

(ii) at least one insect toxin; and (iii) a support element for attaching said protective membrane and said bait core to a fixed structure.