Residual Activity of Candidate Insecticidal Formulations for Quarantine Control of the Caribbean Fruit Fly, 1979-80

Abstract

Abstract During quarantine control formulation tests conducted in 71 nW trailer vans in Miami, Florida, aluminum and carpet squares were exposed concurrently with caged insects to evaluate initial effects (reported separately by von Windeguth and Arner). Acrylic carpet and painted aluminum were cut into 152 mm2 squares and exposed, two of each type, at floor level along the sides of trailers one square width from side wall near the center point of the trailer. The exposure period was 30 minutes, and during the last 20 minutes, one rear door of the trailer was opened. Approximately 100 adult, colony-reared flies were caged in 0.47 L paper cans with screened ends. Caged flies were chilled at 0°C until inactive, the cage cover removed, and the cage placed open-end down on the treated surface for one hour. Both surface types were tested at 4 and 28 hr after trailer treatment, and each surface was used only once. Three replications were made, each with residues collected on a different date. Flies were allowed free access to food and water and held at ca. 21°C until mortality counts 24 hr posttreatment. Control mortality was corrected according to Abbott’s formula.