Storming Media: Pentagon Reports and DocumentsPentagon Reports: Fast. Definitive. Complete.     
New Account »
Forgot Password?
Advanced Search »
Biological SciencesBiology

Effects of Wind Speed on Aerosol Spray Penetration in Adult Mosquito Bioassay Cages

Authors: Bradley K Fritz; W C Hoffman; Muhammad Farooq; Miriam F Cooperband; NAVY ENTOMOLOGY CENTER OF EXCELLENCE JACKSONVILLE FL
Abstract:
Bioassay cages are commonly used to assess efficacy of insecticides against adult mosquitoes in the field. To correlate adult mortality readings to insecticidal efficacy and/or spray application parameters properly, it is important to know how the cage used in the bioassay interacts with the spray cloud containing the applied insecticide. This study compared the size of droplets, wind speed, and amount of spray material penetrating cages and outside of cages in a wind tunnel at different wind speeds. Two bioassay cages, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE) and Circle, were evaluated. The screen materials used on these cages reduced the size of droplets, wind speed, and amount of spray material inside the cages as compared to the spray cloud and wind velocity outside of the cages. When the wind speed in the dispersion tunnel was set at 0.6 m/sec (1.3 mph), the mean wind speed inside of the CMAVE Bioassay Cage and Circle Cage was 0.045 m/sec (0.10 mph) and 0.075 m/sec (0.17 mph), respectively. At air velocities of 2.2 m/sec (4.9 mph) in the dispersion tunnel, the mean wind speed inside of the CMAVE Bioassay Cage and Circle Cage was 0.83 m/sec (1.86 mph) and 0.71 m/sec (1.59 mph), respectively. Consequently, there was a consistent 50-70% reduction of spray material penetrating the cages compared to the spray cloud that approached the cages. These results provide a better understanding of the impact of wind speed, cage design, and construction on ultra-low-volume spray droplets.

Limitations: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Description: Journal article
Pages: 9
Report Date: Jan-2008
Report Number: A087994
Keywords relating to this report:
*CULICIDAE
*ENTOMOLOGY
*INSECTICIDES
*SPRAYS
*WIND TUNNELS
*WIND VELOCITY
AEROSOLS
AGRICULTURE
DISPERSING
DROPS
MORTALITY RATE
PENETRATION
REPRINTS
VETERINARY MEDICINE
Email This Abstract