D3170: The effectiveness of alpha-cypermethrin and pyriproxyfen treated long-lasting insecticidal netting on flying insects

A novel mosquito net (Royal Guard) uses a combination of active ingredients (alpha-cypermethrin and pyriproxyfen), This combination of a Type 2 pyrethroid and a juvenile hormone analog has the potential of overcoming insecticide resistance in mosquitoes and house flies, but it is unknown whether the two insecticides are compatible to provide insect kill. We tested the effectiveness of the netting against mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti, Orlando susceptible strain, the vector for yellow fever and many other diseases) as well as house flies (Musca domestica, Gainesville field strain, the vector for cholera) in test chambers alongside control chambers with untreated netting. The times for the insects to become moribund (incapable of flight) and 24 h mortality (unresponsive to probing) were determined. Within the experimental chambers, mosquitoes were morbid within 5-10 min, and flies were moribund within 10 - 15 minutes. Both flies and mosquitoes in test chambers were dead at 24 h, while untreated control insects had < 5%  mortality. Alpha-cypermethrin and pyriproxyfen have the potential to be incorporated into other long-lasting insecticidal netting, as alpha-cypermethrin is a long lasting pyrethroid insecticide that provides contact kill, and pyriproxyfen is known to prevent insect egg hatch. The combination of these active ingredients has the potential of providing better mosquito and fly control and may encourage the donation of longer-lasting insecticidal nets to regions in the world where mosquito and fly resistance is pervasive