Strain differences in the response of German cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) to emulsifiable concentrates.

Abstract

The response of a susceptible and two pyrethroid-resistant field strains of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, to four emulsifiable concentrates (ECs)--Tempo (cyfluthrin), Demon (cypermethrin), Dursban (chlorpyrifos) LO, and XRM 5184 (chlorpyrifos)--was investigated. Application rates were 0.4, 0.1, 0.5, and 0.5%, respectively. Susceptible cockroaches avoided dried formulations of the pyrethroids Tempo and Demon, but resistant cockroaches did not; avoidance was greater with Demon than with Tempo. Filter papers freshly impregnated (wet) with Demon and Tempo flushed susceptible cockroaches (Demon greater than Tempo). Resistant cockroaches were flushed only by Demon, but less so than susceptible strain cockroaches. No mortality occurred in experiments with the pyrethroids. Dried formulations of Dursban LO and XRM 5184 had little, if any, repellency to nymphs of either the susceptible or resistant strains. Initially (1-3 h), most cockroaches settled on treated papers. Subsequent movement off treated papers was a step in the process leading to knockdown. At 24 h, mortality of susceptible cockroaches was 100% in the experiment with Dursban LO and 95% in the experiment with XRM 5184. Highest mortality in a resistant strain (40%) was in the contact experiment with Dursban LO. In contact repellency and flushing experiments, mortality was higher with Dursban LO than with XRM 5184. Neither chlorpyrifos formulation flushed cockroaches effectively. Mortality in flushing experiments was less than in the contact repellency experiments.