Oil formulation of pyrethroids for contamination of tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) through tarsal contact with treated targets

Mosquito netting side panels of targets used for tsetse control were treated with lambda-cyhalothrin, either dissolved in a mixture of acetone and a chlorohydrocarbon oil, ‘Cereclor’® > (ICI, UK) or as a conventional wettable powder formulation suspended in water. Treated netting samples were weathered under natural conditions in full sun in Zimbabwe. Following brief tarsal contact of test insects (adults of Glossina morsitans morsitans Westw.) with treated netting, the wettable powder induced 100% knockdown for four months after treatment but 24-hour mortality levels were reduced from the third month onwards. The oil formulation induced 100% knockdown for up to ten months following treatment and 100% mortality at 24 hours for up to eight months. Chemical assay showed that after two months there had been a rapid reduction in the amount of active ingredient to only 20% of that applied using the wettable powder, whereas the oil formulation took seven months to fall to this level. Provided that at least 5% of the original amount of pyrethroid remained on the fabric it was quite effective and the superiority of the oil formulation was further enhanced by the observation that the starting concentration was only 25% of that of the wettable powder.