Alternative pest control strategies using biorational products

Abstract

The field of arthropod management is a rapidly-evolving one. This area focuses on the process reducing the negative consequences associated with the intersection of human health, animal health, and biting insects such as mosquitoes and other members of the Dipteran order. As these arthropods have continued to impact the lives of humans and livestock, many classes of insecticides and repellents have been deployed repeatedly to combat these pests. As these control strategies have been used repeatedly on field populations of hematophagous arthropods, some of these populations have developed resistance (decreased efficacy) to these compounds. This development of resistance in field situations has led to the need for new tools to be developed to combat insects in field settings. This dissertation focuses on the development of biorational compounds, derived from natural sources, and their potential uses as key components of insect management strategies.