Successful yeast microencapsulation of fluralaner and its potential as a larvicide for vector control

Fly control for any species is most effectively implemented in the immature stages when insects can be eliminated before emerging as adults capable of transmitting pathogens or becoming nuisance pests. Yet a limited number of insecticide classes are available for treating larval development sites for dipteran pest species. The most recently introduced class of insecticides in the United States (US) is the isoxazolines, including fluralaner. In the US, fluralaner is currently exclusively labeled for use against ectoparasites in companion animals. However, research has shown that it has a wider effective target range beyond ectoparasites and could be developed as an insecticide for vector control. Here we tested a novel, proprietary, yeast microencapsulated (YME) formulation of fluralaner against the larvae of three pest species: Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae), and Culicoides sonorensis Wirth and Jones (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). These species all naturally consume microorganisms as larvae, including yeasts. Fluralaner was successfully microencapsulated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. YME fluralaner was reconstituted in water at concentrations of 0.00001–0.1 mg/mL (Aedes and Culicoides) or 1–50 mg/mL (Musca) for use in dose-response assays. For each species, the LC₅₀ at 24 h was estimated using probit analyses. YME fluralaner was highly effective against all species tested (Ae. albopictus LC₅₀ = 0.000077 mg/mL; C. sonorensis LC₅₀ = 0.00067 mg/mL; M. domestica LC₅₀ = 2.58 mg/mL). Additionally, laboratory assays were conducted to determine product reapplication rates using LC₅₀ rates. Reapplication rates to maintain <50 % emergence were five weeks (Ae. albopictus) and greater than eight weeks (C. sonorensis). The results presented here indicate YME fluralaner is a promising candidate for controlling larval insects that naturally feed on detritus, thereby bypassing cuticular penetration barriers and safely delivering the active ingredient to the target species.