SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE BEDBUG, CIMEX-LECTULARIUS, TO SELECTED INSECTICIDES AND VARIOUS TREATED SURFACES

Adult bedbugs, Cimex lectularius, were exposed for 24 h (25-degrees-C) to filter paper treated with various dilutions of the technical grade of nine insecticides dissolved in acetone to determine the concentration-response relationships. The order of toxicity, from most to least based on the LC50's was: dichlorvos, pirimiphos methyl, lambda-cyhalothrin, bendiocarb, permethrin, malathion, carbaryl. tetrachlorvinphos, and fenvalerate. The residual toxicities of commercial formulations of six of the chemicals diluted with water and applied to wood, cardboard, cloth and galvanized metal, were determined by exposing adult bedbugs at 3, 7 and 12 weeks after treatment. The formulation of bendiocarb (FICAM(R) 76% W) had little residual activity on all surfaces at 12 weeks after treatment. The formulation of carbaryl (SEVIN(R) 21.5% L) was toxic to bedbugs on all surfaces at 12 weeks after treatment, but required high concentrations on wood, cardboard, and cloth. The formulation of pirimiphos methyl (ACTELLIC(R) 57% EC) had no residual activity on any of the surfaces at 12 weeks after treatment. The formulation of tetrachlorovinphos (RABON(R) 50% W) had residual activity for 12 weeks on all surfaces except metal. The formulation of permethrin (ATROBAN(R) 11% EC) had residual activity on only metal and wood while the formulation of lambda-cyhalothrin (KARATE(R) 13.1% EC) had residual activity 12 weeks on all surfaces.