The susceptibility of a mosquito species (Culex pipiens quinquefasclatus) to the insecticides, malathion, DDT and UBMT in the Sudan savanna zone of Nigeria

Abstract

The susceptibility of adult females of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus to malathion, dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT), and 1 – (- dimethylaminobenzylidene) – 3 -methylthiotriazene (DBMT) was assessed by residual application using the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) standard susceptibility test method on the Main Campus, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Also the susceptibility and contact bioassay studies were carried out on the larvae of this species for malathion and DBMT. The results obtained indicate that DBMT has insecticidal property on both larval and adult C.p. quinquefasciatus. Of the three insecticides tested, malathion was the most effective at high concentration while DBMT was the most effective at low concentration. C.p. quinquefasciatus has high resistance to DDT. The larvae were more susceptible to malathion than DBMT, the latter being poorly larvicidal. The results of the residual application test on a concrete wall surface indicate that malathion is much more stable than DBMT.