Field evaluation of novaluron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor larvicide, against mosquito larvae in polluted water in urban areas of Bangkok, Thailand.

Novaluron, an insect growth regulator, a benzoylphenyl urea insecticide, was evaluated in the field against the larvae of polluted-water mosquitoes. The study was carried out in highly polluted sites infested with populations of mosquito larvae, mostly Culex quinquefasciatus Say, in low-income communities in urban areas of Bangkok, Thailand. An EC10 formulation was premixed in water and applied by pressurized spray tank to plots ranging from 180 to 1,000 m2 at the rate of 0.1 ml EC 10/m2 (equal to 10 mg a.i./m2) of the breeding sites. Assessments were made by sampling mosquito larvae and pupae to determine the trends of immature populations before treatment and weekly after treatment. Reduction of the populations in percents were then computed by comparing counts of immature mosquitoes (larvae and pupae) to the pretreatment counts at each particular site. It was found that the immature populations of mosquitoes in the treated areas were dramatically suppressed and remained at extremely low levels for 3-7 weeks after the treatment depending on the prevailing conditions of each experimental site. No negative impact on fishes or aquatic plants in the treated areas were detected during the study period and three months after the experiment was discontinued. Novaluron is an effective agent to control immature populations of polluted-water mosquitoes, especially Cx. quinquefasciatus in habitats in urban areas. This IGR larvicide may play an important role in vector control programs in terms of effectiveness, environmental friendliness and strategies for insecticide-resistance management in vector mosquitoes.

Control of ctenocephalides felis on dogs and cats using the insect growth regulator [or chitin synthesis inhibitor] lufenuron program, in Egypt

Lufenuron, the chitin synthesis inhibitor [Program, Novartis, Switzerland] was given orally at doses of 10 mg/kg b. wt. to dogs and 30 mg/kg b. wt. to cats every four weeks [monthly] for the treatment of experimental flea infestations. Three-four weeks after the last infestation, lufenuron had effectively controlled the Ct. Felis infestation of dogs and cats as the drug prevented the development of the offspring of adult female fleas feeding on animals. Flea populations remained absent or very low until the end of the study, 91 days after the first treatment