Insecticide Resistance in the Cat Flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)

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Abstract
Adult cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché), from laboratory colonies originating from two widely divergent habitats (California and Florida) were exposed to residues of various insecticides to demonstrate differences in susceptibilities between the two strains. Bendiocarb, carbaryl, chlorfenvinphos, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, isofenphos, malathion, propetamphos, and propoxur were tested. Resistance of the newly colonized strain originating in Florida estimated by comparison of LC50’s was ca. 3.5- to 28-fold compared with the strain that had originated in California and had been in colonization for ca. 2 decades. Of the chemicals tested, chlorpyrifos was most effective against both strains of cat fleas (Florida LC50 = 1.1 mg/929 cm2, California LC50 = 0.11 mg/929 cm2). Malathion was least effective on the Florida strain. Propoxur was least effective against the California strain.