Evaluation of compounds for insecticidal activity on adult mosquitos. 1. Responses of adult mosquitos to some new insecticides.

Responses shown by female mosquitos to topical applications of solutions, to deposits from water-dispersible-powder formulations, or to exposure to the vapour from such deposits, are described for a number of compounds that have shown promise as residual contact insecticides.The behaviour of Anopheles stephensi females in laboratory tests indicates that departures of mosquitos from treated buildings, and their survival rates, are likely to be increased as a result of irritation and consequent activity after only a brief period of contact with phthalthrin (OMS-1011) and other synthetic pyrethroids but not with dieldrin (OMS-18) and lindane (OMS-17) or the carbamates and organophosphorus compounds tested. Mosquitos were not disturbed by exposure to the vapour from deposits of any of the compounds.The rates of action of the different compounds following their application in solution directly to the insect cuticle or contact of the mosquitos with deposits on plywood and plaster emphasize the importance of the lipid-solubility and partitioning properties of an insecticide in determining its passage from a surface deposit into, and through, the cuticle to the site of action.