Effect of the insecticide sumicidin on the biology and survival of the american cockroach nymph periplaneta americana l. (blattidae, dictyoptera).

Abstract

This study was conducted under laboratory conditions to evaluate the effect of sumicidin (a pyrethriod insecticide) on the heart rates, convulsion and mortality of the american coackroach nymph Periplaneta americana L., a nuisance public health insect in houses and other public buildings. After 24-hr of exposure, insects treated with 50, 100 and 200 ppm were found to have significantly higher heart rates than control. At 72-hr all insects treated with 200 ppm were found dead, while those treated with 50 and 100 ppm showed reduction in heart rates. However no change was detected in the case of insects treated with 25 ppm as compared to control. Sumicidin at 25 and 50 ppm was also found to result in a significant increase of convulsion in treate insects. However no such differences were detcted in those treated with 100 ppm and control. Survival of the treated insects was also affected, where 29% mortality was detected in the 200 ppm, after 24-hr of exposure. While there was no mortality at the other treatments in this period. After 72-hr, post treatment, 100% mortality was reported in 200 ppm. However conr trol and other treatments mortalities were found to range from zero to 32%.