Efficacy of Seven Commercial Pest Control Products against Cimex Lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Abstract:
Seven commercial pest control products were assayed against Cimex lectularius (L.) adults and 4th instar nymphs under laboratory conditions for 48 hr. After initial exposure a selection of the porous plates were aged under mixed lighting, at 22ºC for 5 weeks, and assayed using 4th instar nymphs to determine the residual action. The quickest acting active ingredient against adults was lambda cyhalothrin which achieved total control within 45 min., followed by bendiocarb, alpha cypermethrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin and d-phenothrin, and finally chlorfenapyr which after 48 hr exhibited less than 40% control. Against the 4th instar nymphs the quickest acting product was alpha cypermethrin, however this along with lambda cyhalothrin, deltamethrin and bendiocarb had achieved total control in 2 hr. D-phenothrin achieved total control at 24 hr with chlorfenapyr only affecting 13% after 48 hr exposure. After aging the deltamethrin, alpha cypermethrin and lambda cyhalothrin plates for 5 weeks, further assays were undertaken with 4th instar nymphs. Alpha cypermethrin showed the best and quickest efficacy followed closely by the other two active ingredients, and were comparable to the initial trial. These results are discussed in terms of best practice for control of bed bug infestations.