Performance of Insecticides for Control of Cat Fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) Indoors

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Abstract
Activities of insecticides against adult cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouche), were broadly categorized as follows: organophosphates > carbamates = synergized pyrethrins > pyrethroids. Residues of chlorpyrifos (applied at 127 mg [AI]/m2), propetamphos (127 mg/m2), permethrin (255 mg/m2), diazinon (509 mg/m2), malathion (1,018 mg/m2), and carbaryl (1,222 mg/m2) applied to nylon carpet provided >90% kill of adult cat fleas for at least 21 d. Activities of insecticide sprays were inversely related to increased density or depth of carpet. Vacuuming or simulated wear on treated carpet did not significantly affect residual activity against fleas, but shampooing reduced activity of microencapsulated diazinon and bendiocarb by 30 and 93%, respectively. Propetamphos was not affected by carpet shampoo.