Relative efficacy of insecticide treated mosquito nets (Diptera : Culicidae) under field conditions

The relative efficacy of insecticide treated mosquito nets was evaluated un der field conditions in Dehra village of Dhaulana PHC, District Ghaziabad, U.P., India, during 1996. Nylon nets were impregnated with deltamethrin, cy fluthrin, lambdacyhalothrin, and etofenprox at 25 mg/m(2) by standard metho ds. Repellent, excite-repellency, killing, and airborne actions were monito red from dusk to dawn by hourly collection of mosquitoes that entered and r ested in rooms and also females that landed on treated and untreated mosqui to nets. Results revealed 15.3-22.9% repellent action, 98.3-99.3% excite-re pellency action, and 100% mortality of females that landed on treated fabri cs. No significant differences were observed in the efficacy of different s ynthetic pyrethroids against anophelines. However, against Culex quinquefas ciatus Say there was a significant difference between deltamethrin and etof enprox. Control of anophelines was more pronounced than Cx. quinquefasciatu s. There was no pronounced airborne action with any insecticide tested. Syn thetic pyrethroids with strong airborne action may be more appropriate for impregnation of mosquito nets.