Aerial application of pesticides using a spot-gun has the potential to improve the efficiency of pesticide application for management of pests in sensitive areas, particularly for eradication programmes in urban zones. A custom built spot gun, comprising two D14-46 nozzles at the end of a 2 m long lance, was used to deliver a fluorescent dye solution to tree canopies from a hovering aircraft.  This method of application provided good coverage of dye on the majority of leaf surfaces throughout the mature tree canopies tested. Using the spot-gun the form of the deposits on the leaf surfaces were different from that obtained using conventional aerial broadcast application methods. This could affect efficacy of a pesticide in an eradication programme. Although further development of the spot-gun method is required, this preliminary study indicated that the method has potential as a tool for targeted aerial application of pesticides.

Aerial spot-spraying technique: A method for pest eradication in urban environments

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.