Effects of five insect growth regulators on laboratory populations of the North American house-dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae.

The potential of insect growth regulators (methoprene, hydroprene, fenoxycarb, diflubenzuron and triflumuron) to control populations of the North American house-dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae (Hughes) was assessed in laboratory bioassays. Methoprene was most effective at suppressing population growth, especially at concentrations of 1.0% (10,000 ppm) and 5.0% (5000 ppm) active ingredient. Hydroprene, structurally related to methoprene, also suppressed house-dust mite populations but not as consistently as methoprene. Fenoxycarb may be effective at controlling house-dust mites but at greater concentrations than were tested. Diflubenzuron and triflumuron, two chitin-synthesis inhibitors, failed to suppress mite numbers and may, in fact, stimulate reproduction in some cases. Almost all concentration of the insect growth regulators were shown to be ineffective when assayed 90 days after treatment.