Laboratory evaluation of pyriproxifen treated bednets on mosquito fertility and fecundity. A preliminary study.

AIM: The study evaluated the effect of pyriproxifen treated bednets on mosquito fertility and fecundity in the laboratory. Pyriproxyfen (insect growth regulator) has been considered as a possible tool for management of pyrethroid resistance in mosquitoes. There are documentations of the effectiveness of pyriproxifen in controlling larval development when applied directly to breeding site. Considerations have been given to the use of pyriproxyfen on bed nets for sterilizing effect on mosquitoes resistant to pyrethroids.
METHOD: Groups of mosquitoes (Anopheles stephensi Beech) were exposed to bednet treated with 2% Pyriproxyfen and untreated netting 24 hrs after blood feeding. After oviposition, egg counts were done for each mosquito in the two groups. Larvae emerging from the laid eggs by each mosquito were counted. Three sets of experiments were successful.
RESULTS: There was no significant difference in number of eggs laid between the two treatment groups (p=0.177). There was statistically significant difference in the number of laid eggs that hatched between the treatment types (p=0.0061). There was also statistically significant difference in the mean number of eggs that hatched between the experiments (p=0.0013). The mean number of eggs retained in the pyriproxyfen group was higher (70.3) than in the control group (41.6). This difference was not statistically significant with the small sample tested (p=0.08).
CONCLUSION: The results suggest that 2% pyriproxyfen on bed nets has no effect on An. stephensi fecundity. Reduced fertility of eggs laid by mosquitoes exposed to pyriproxyfen treated bed nets was observed.