THE CONTROLLING EFFECTS OF ABAMECTIN AND HYDRAMETHYLNON FOR THE AUSTRALIAN COCKROACH, PERIPLANETA-AUSTRALASIAE (F) (ORTHOPTERA, BLATTELLIDAE), IN TAIWAN

A microbially-derived compound - abamectin - and a metabolic inhibitor - hydramethylnon - were evaluated as control agents of the Australian cockroach. Abamectin was 445 times faster than that of hydramethylnon in producing a lethal response when the chemicals were applied topica lly on the thoracic sternum of the roaches. Hydramethylnon was faster than abamectin, however, when administered by ingestion method. After the female roaches had been fed on 1% hydramethylnon bait for 5 days, then fed on nontoxic puppy-food and water, all the roaches died 7 days later. The results showed that abamectin was suitable for spraying, w hereas the hydramethylnon was good as a toxic bait in controlling the Australian cockroach. Hydramethylnon showed the secondary killing effe ct to the rest of cockroach colony through coprophagy.