Efficacy of synthetic pyrethroid and propoxur aerosol in the control of German cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blatellidae) in cookhouses

Abstract

Background and objectives: A field trial was carried out in cookhouses in an urban area to evaluate the efficacy of synthetic pyrethroid (0.02% deltamethrin + 0.13% allethrin) and propoxur aerosols (2%) in the control of German cockroaches (Blatella germanica).

Methods: A total of six cookhouses were selected by simple random sampling method (two each for the two insecticide treatments and two for control).

Results: It was observed that 89.36-87.8 and 77.95-59.74% reductions were achieved with propoxur and synthetic pyrethroid treatment respectively by first week post-treatment. The reduction in propoxur treated areas by eight weeks post-treatment was 82.98-76.13%, whereas the reduction in the same time period in synthetic pyrethroid treated areas ranged from 14.36% to an increase in density by a phenomenal 157.86% in one of the treated sites.

Interpretation and conclusion: The study reports the efficacy of propoxur aerosol (2%) treatment over synthetic pyrethroid (0.02% deltamethrin + 0.13% allethrin) in the control of cockroach infestation in cookhouses in urban area.