DWFP and DWFP and Areawide Pest Management Areawide Pest Management

Research Unit Research Unit

Clint Hoffmann, Ron Nachman, and John Clint Hoffmann, Ron Nachman, and John Westbrook (Research Leader)Westbrook (Research Leader)

College Station, TXCollege Station, TX

Personal BackgroundPersonal Background Agricultural Engineer: Texas A&M Agricultural Engineer: Texas A&M

University and University of Florida;University and University of Florida; Background in application Background in application

technology (ground and aerial);technology (ground and aerial); Current activities related to effects Current activities related to effects

on spray atomization from on spray atomization from formulation and nozzle design, spray formulation and nozzle design, spray drift mitigation, and DWFP work.drift mitigation, and DWFP work.

Really Not Much Difference Really Not Much Difference in Ag Spraying and Military in Ag Spraying and Military

Vector ControlVector ControlAg: Keep pests off plants Military: Keep pests off “plants”

We work close to the We work close to the groundground

Spray DriftSpray Drift By learning how to prevent spray By learning how to prevent spray

“drift” in ag, we can learn how to “drift” in ag, we can learn how to drift for vector control;drift for vector control;

The goal of barrier sprays is to The goal of barrier sprays is to maximize deposition on the intended maximize deposition on the intended target, which is what the goal is in target, which is what the goal is in ag sprays. ag sprays.

Research Areas: Central Research Areas: Central TXTX Primarily: Corn and cotton with Primarily: Corn and cotton with

increasing soybeans and wheat.increasing soybeans and wheat. Focus on Areawide control instead Focus on Areawide control instead

of field by fieldof field by field

Wind Tunnel FacilitiesWind Tunnel Facilities

3 wind tunnels: 3 wind tunnels: 1 ft X 1 ft, 3 ft X 3ft, and 1 ft X 1 ft, 3 ft X 3ft, and

6 ft X 6 ft with airspeed 6 ft X 6 ft with airspeed ranges of 0-160 mph;ranges of 0-160 mph;

Droplet Sizing and Droplet Sizing and Deposition AnalysesDeposition Analyses

Droplet measurements: IMAQ/CCD Droplet measurements: IMAQ/CCD camera for imaging, PMS, LaVision, and camera for imaging, PMS, LaVision, and Sympatec Helos for atomization studies Sympatec Helos for atomization studies and droplet velocity and trajectory. and droplet velocity and trajectory.

Deposition measurements: GC, Deposition measurements: GC, fluorometers, colorimeters, etc.fluorometers, colorimeters, etc.

Aircraft FleetAircraft FleetAirTractor 402B Turbine – 400 gal hopperCessna 206 – 4 passenger plane

AgHusky – 100 and 180 gal hoppers Hiller 12E Helicopter – 60 gal hopper

Our Role in the Aerial Our Role in the Aerial Application IndustryApplication Industry

Recognized as the primary research Recognized as the primary research facility for aerial application in the facility for aerial application in the U.S.;U.S.;

Work closely with NAAA and aerial Work closely with NAAA and aerial applicators to identify research needs applicators to identify research needs and concerns from the industry;and concerns from the industry;

Balance these needs with the goals Balance these needs with the goals and objectives of our ARS mission.and objectives of our ARS mission.

Involvement with DWFPInvolvement with DWFP Started with droplet sizing of Started with droplet sizing of

equipment.equipment. First study was evaluation of hand-held First study was evaluation of hand-held

equipment with Dr. Todd Walker, Navy equipment with Dr. Todd Walker, Navy Entomology Center of Excellence;Entomology Center of Excellence;

We are now bringing application We are now bringing application technology principles that we learn in technology principles that we learn in the ag field to vector control the ag field to vector control applications.applications.

UAV HelicopterUAV Helicopter Design, build, and test a spray system Design, build, and test a spray system

for a for a trulytruly autonomous spray system. autonomous spray system. We have started the acquisition We have started the acquisition

process.process. Spray system is currently being Spray system is currently being

designed and built;designed and built; Expect to have the system flying by Expect to have the system flying by

July.July.

UAV Flight Control UAV Flight Control StationStation

Landing the UAVLanding the UAV

Landing Video

Droplet Size Spectra Droplet Size Spectra Analyses of Vector Control Analyses of Vector Control

EquipmentEquipment Three major studies have been conducted: 5 Three major studies have been conducted: 5

hand-held, 10 truck-mounted sprayers, and 12 hand-held, 10 truck-mounted sprayers, and 12 thermal foggers have been evaluated for a thermal foggers have been evaluated for a multitude of spray formulations, chemicals, multitude of spray formulations, chemicals, and rates. and rates.

Two manuscripts have been submitted with 2-Two manuscripts have been submitted with 2-3 more expected from the thermal fogger 3 more expected from the thermal fogger study.study.

Spinoff of these studies has been the Spinoff of these studies has been the comparison of laser, AIMS, and slide data to comparison of laser, AIMS, and slide data to compare the different systems.compare the different systems.

Cooperative studies with Todd Walker, Navy Cooperative studies with Todd Walker, Navy Entomological Center of Excellence personnel, Entomological Center of Excellence personnel, Todd Gwinn, and CMAVE.Todd Gwinn, and CMAVE.

Thermal Fogger TestsThermal Fogger Tests

Development of an Optical Development of an Optical Insect Detection SystemInsect Detection System

Working with Jerry Klun on an Working with Jerry Klun on an optical mosquito detection system;optical mosquito detection system;

Uses a line scan camera, light sheet, Uses a line scan camera, light sheet, and in-house developed software and in-house developed software routines;routines;

Phil Jank (Engineering Technician) is Phil Jank (Engineering Technician) is in Beltsville this week to start set up in Beltsville this week to start set up of system.of system.

Future IssuesFuture Issues UAV;UAV; Electrostatics;Electrostatics; Formulations;Formulations; ???????? We would really like to know what We would really like to know what

your needs are so please let us your needs are so please let us know.know.

Neuropeptides: Ron Neuropeptides: Ron NachmanNachman

Objective: Develop and exploit insect Objective: Develop and exploit insect neuropeptide (NP) technology to develop neuropeptide (NP) technology to develop more effective and environmentally friendly more effective and environmentally friendly methods for the control of pest arthropods methods for the control of pest arthropods affecting U.S. troops deployed overseas.affecting U.S. troops deployed overseas.

Development of the peptidome, a map of the Development of the peptidome, a map of the tissue and organ distribution of neuropeptide tissue and organ distribution of neuropeptide hormones of the adult yellow fever mosquito, hormones of the adult yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. State-of-the-art analytical Aedes aegypti. State-of-the-art analytical techniques (MALDI-TOF/TOF mass techniques (MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry) are the primary scientific spectrometry) are the primary scientific resource being utilized in the work.resource being utilized in the work.

Neuropeptide Work Neuropeptide Work (con’t)(con’t)

Developing mimetic analogs of diuretic Developing mimetic analogs of diuretic insect neuropeptides that feature insect neuropeptides that feature enhanced biostability and bioavailability enhanced biostability and bioavailability using neuropeptide active sites isolated using neuropeptide active sites isolated in the laboratory;in the laboratory;

Work is ongoing to further characterize Work is ongoing to further characterize the structural and 3D-shape the structural and 3D-shape requirements for interaction of the requirements for interaction of the insect kinin class of neuropeptide insect kinin class of neuropeptide hormones with their active sites in the hormones with their active sites in the mosquito, A. aegypti, and in the cattle mosquito, A. aegypti, and in the cattle fever tick, Boophilus microplus. fever tick, Boophilus microplus.

Neuropeptide Work Neuropeptide Work (con’t)(con’t)

Developing biostable, non-peptide Developing biostable, non-peptide mimics of the insect kinins based on the mimics of the insect kinins based on the evaluation of combinatorial libraries of evaluation of combinatorial libraries of rationally designed non-peptides. rationally designed non-peptides.

Work is expected to significantly add to Work is expected to significantly add to the scientific foundation necessary for the scientific foundation necessary for ultimate development of effective and ultimate development of effective and practical neuropeptide-based insect practical neuropeptide-based insect control agents that will provide control agents that will provide effective means of control for pest effective means of control for pest insects.insects.

USDA ARS USDA ARS Aerial Application Aerial Application Technology TeamTechnology Team

Website: Website: apmru.usda.govapmru.usda.gov

-- WORKING FOR -- WORKING FOR APPLICATORS --APPLICATORS --

Team MembersTeam Members Clint Hoffmann: 979.260.9521, Clint Hoffmann: 979.260.9521,

777.0815 777.0815 choffmann@tamu.educhoffmann@tamu.edu Ron Nachman: 979.260.9315Ron Nachman: 979.260.9315 John Westbrook: 979.260.9351John Westbrook: 979.260.9351

Mixing work and fun make Mixing work and fun make a successful project!a successful project!