Abai, MR

6th International Congress of DipterologyThe use of air curtains to prevent entry of flies andmosquitoes on commercial aircraftHogsette, J.A. & D.A. CarlsonUSDA-ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE),P.O. Box 14565, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA.Dispersal of insects, particularly species that transmit zoonotic diseases, bycommercial aircraft is a concern of many nations world wide. Anotherconcern, particularly by flight crews and passengers, are the currentpesticide-based methods mandated for treatment of aircraft prior to landingin countries anxious to prevent entry of vector species. The USDA,supported partially by a grant from the Federal Department ofTransportation, investigated the potential use of air curtains as analternative method for management of insects that might enter and dispersevia commercial air craft. The method involves preventing insect entryduring servicing and boarding of aircraft and prevention of insect exit fromaircraft after landing. Tests were performed in rooms especially designedto simulate boarding bridges attached to an aircraft cabins. Air curtains,used commercially to prevent insect entry over doorways, were mountedvertically on either side of the door between the simulated boarding bridgeand aircraft so that air blew into the boarding bridge and air streams fromeach unit intersected at a 90° angle just inside the center of the doorway ofthe boarding bridge. To perform a test, 50 mosquitoes of 3 differentspecies (150 total) and 50 house flies, Musca domestica, were released inthe simulated boarding bridge when air curtains were in operation. Next,staff members made 25 passes through the boarding bridge, through the airstream of the air curtains and into the aircraft to simulate passengerboarding. After the 25 th ‘passenger’ entered the aircraft, the doorseparating the two rooms was closed and any insects that passed into theaircraft were counted and identified. The system excluded 95-99% of themosquitoes and 95-100% of the house flies.110