RESPONSE OF ANOPHELES-FARAUTI TO PERMETHRIN-TREATED NET AND CLOTH FABRICS IN THE LABORATORY

The median effective dose of permethrin for knockdown and mortality of Anopheles farauti s. s. exposed to 2 net and 2 cloth fabrics was esti mated. There were no significant differences in the knockdown or morta lity of An. farauti or Aedes aegypti following 15-180-sec exposure to permethrin-treated bed nets and polyester/cotton fabric. Despite the p resence of permethrin (0.007-0.068 mg/cm(2)) in bed net material, 18.2 -50% of An. farauti adults successfully obtained a blood meal through the nets, and although all of them were knocked down after 60 min, up to 77.8% recovered within 24 h and 57.1-100% of the survivors were blo odfed. The results indicate that this important vector of malaria can obtain a blood meal through treated bed net material and emphasizes th e importance of avoiding contact with the net while sleeping.