Transfer of ingested insecticides among cockroaches: Effects of active ingredient, bait formulation, and assay procedures

Foraging cockroaches ingest insecticide baits, translocate them, and can ca use mortality in untreated cockroaches that contact the foragers or ingest their excretions. Translocation of eight ingested baits by adult male Blatt ella germanica (L.) was examined in relation to the type of the active ingr edient, formulation, and foraging area. Ingested boric acid, chlorpyrifos, fipronil, and hydramethylnon that were excreted by adults in small dishes k illed 100% of first instars within 10 d and > 50% of second instars within 14 d. Residues from these ingested baits were also highly effective on nymp hs in larger arenas and killed 16-100% of the adults. However, when the bai ts and dead cockroaches were removed from the large arenas and replaced wit h new cockroaches, only residues of the slow-acting hydramethylnon killed m ost of the nymphs and adults, whereas residues of fast acting insecticides (chlorpyrifos and fipronil) killed fewer nymphs and adults. Excretions from cockroaches that ingested abamectin baits failed to cause significant mort ality in cockroaches that contacted the residues. These results suggest tha t hydramethylnon is highly effective in these assays because cockroaches th at feed on the bait have ample time to return to their shelter and defecate insecticide-laden feces, The relatively high concentration of hydramethyln on in the bait (2.15%) and its apparent stability in the digestive tract an d feces probably contribute to the efficacy of hydramethylnon. To control f or differences among baits in inert ingredients and the amount of active in gredient, we compared 1% chlorpyrifos with 1% hydramethylnon in identical b aits. Again, hydramethylnon residues provided greater secondary kill, but t he results highlighted the importance of the inert ingredients. We conclude that, in the absence of cannibalism and necrophagy, translocation of baits and secondary kill are most effective with slow acting insecticides in pal atable baits that can traverse the digestive tract and be deposited within and around the cockroach aggregation.