Dr. Murai Éva - Gubányi András szerk.: Parasitologia Hungarica 29-30. (Budapest, 1997)

© Hungarian Natural History Museum Hungarian Society of Parasitologists Laboratory tests and practical evaluation of novel granule formulations containing BTI or methoprene developed for controlling mosquito and fly larvae Dániel BAJOMI

1

, László VARJAS

1

, László PAP

2

, Róbert FARKAS

3 and József TOMCSIK

1 1 Bábolna Bioenvironmental Centre, H-l 107 Budapest, Szállás u. 6, Hungary 2 Chinoin Agrochem Business Unit, H—1225 Budapest, Bányalég u. 2, Hungary 3 University of Veterinary Science, H—1078 Budapest, István u. 2, Hungary (Received 21 April, 1997) Abstract: The residual activity of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (BTI) and methoprene, a juvenile hormone analogue (juvenoid) was assessed when their novel granule formulations, were tested on mosquito and fly larvae. BTI B 5 GR mosquito larvicide at 5 and 10 ppm (a.i.) gave 100% control against L4 larvae of Aedes aegypti for 4 and 12 weeks, respectively. Similar prolonged 16 weeks efficiency could be demonstrated with the methoprene containing BIOPREN BM 5 GR formulation. When applied at 1 to 20 ppm (a.i.) to L3 and L4 larvae ofAe. aegypti. Under simulated natural conditions, young (L1-L2) and old (L3-L4) larvae of Ae. cantans proved especially susceptible, since methoprene incorporated into these granules at a concentration of 0.1% prevented adult emergence for 5 weeks. Tests carried out with LiAe. aegypti larvae in closed containers revealed that relatively high temperature and bacterial contamination could decrease the persistence of juvenoid. The specific morphogenetic activity of methoprene was also observed in tests performed with larvae of Musca domestica. In a laboratory experiment, BIOPREN BM 5 GR inhibited adult emergence for at least 12 weeks even at low dose of 10 mg/kg of pig manure. In another trial conducted in pig-rearing houses with an intensive, cage management system, treatments with the same granules resulted in a significant suppression of previously massive house fly populations. Key words: Culicidae, Aedes aegypti, Muscidae, Musca domestica, mosquito control, fly control, selective larvicide, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, BTI, methoprene, juvenoid, Insect Growth Regulators INTRODUCTION Mosquitoes and flies as potential vectors of various diseases or as harmful insects causing temporary annoyance to man or domestic animals have attracted increasing attention and required regular and efficient control measures in many countries in the last decades. In most cases their relatively short life-cycle, multiple generations within a season and high reproductive rate have favoured the development of resistance or cross-resistance to some frequently used neurotoxic insecticides, applied against extensive populations of