SMALL-SCALE FIELD-EVALUATION OF THE MONOMOLECULAR SURFACE-FILM AROSURF MSF AGAINST ANOPHELES ARABIENSIS PATTON

A field trial was conducted to test the insecticidal action of the mon olayer surface him 'Arosurf MSF' applied by knapsack sprayers, against larvae and pupae of Anopheles arabiensis Patton in a rice irrigation scheme in Western Kenya. Larval and pupal densities and the number of emerging adults were determined by dipping and emergence cages respect ively. Application of the monolayer by knapsack sprayers provided good coverage. There were high daily mortalities of the fourth instar larv ae, with no adult emergence from 'Arosurf MSF' treated plots compared to lower fourth instar mortalities and continuous adult emergence from untreated control plots, indicating the potential of the monolayer fo r control of An. arabiensis mosquitoes in rice fields.