Efficacy of Aerosol Carpet Sprays for Control of Adult Fleas and Adult Flea Emergence, 1987

Abstract

Abstract Four aerosol formulations, FS-744 (0.1% resmethrin, 0.5% chlorpyrifos 0.5%); FS-745 (0.1% Bay FCR 1272, 0.1% pyrethrins, 0.5% chlorpyrifos, 1% piperonyl butoxide, 1% MGK 264, 3% petroleum distillates); FS-746 (0.03% Precor, 0.2% pyrethrins, 1% piperonyl butoxide, 1% MGK 264); and FS-747 (0.1% Bay FCR 1272, 0.1% pyrethrins, 0.5% chlorpyrifos, 1% piperonyl butoxide, 1% MGK 264, 1.4% petroleum distillates), were evaluated against adult cat fleas and adult flea emergence. Nylon shag pile carpet discs (5 inch diam) were sprayed with each formulation at a rate of 3g/1000 ft2. Untreated carpet discs of the same size were used as controls. Each formulation and the controls were replicated 3 times. Treated discs were placed into separate 1 gal glass jars and ca. 25 adult cat fleas were added. After 24 h, dead and live fleas were recovered by removing the carpet disc from the jar and brushing it vigorously for ca. 1 min within a 5 gal plastic bucket. Discs were then submerged in water to recover any additional live fleas. Nylon shag pile carpet discs (3.5 inch diam) were treated as described above and tested for their effects on adult flea emergence. Each test formulation was replicated 3 times and the control was replicated 6 times. On the day of treatment and 2, 4, 8, 10, and 12 wk posttreatment, ca. 0.25 g of a dried blood and ground cat chow mixture (3:20) and 25 cat flea eggs were placed within the fibers of each treated carpet disc. Infested discs were then placed into 1 pt fonda containers, covered with a fine mesh cloth screen to contain emerging adults and stored at 25°C and 80% RH. When >50% of the adult fleas had emerged in the control containers, treatments were evaluated for % adult emergence by recovering adult fleas as described above. In both tests, carpet discs were used only once during each testing interval. All carpet discs were stored at ca. 25°C between infestation periods.