Assessment of methoxy-DDT as a residual spray against mosquitoes in verandahtrap huts at Magugu, Tanzania

Abstract

The effects of residual sprays of methoxy-DDT wettable powder at 2 g/m2 on the mortality and behaviour of Anopheles gambiae Giles, Mansonia uniformis (Theo.) and Culex pipiens fatigans Wied. females were investigated in four verandah-trap huts, one of which was used as control. The overall mortality of no species ever exceeded 29%, and no consistent deterrent effect on entry was demonstrated. The proportions of mosquitoes in the exit traps were, for A. gambiae 80–90% in treated huts and 29–70% in the control, for M. uniformis 90–100% in treated and control huts, and for C. p. fatigans 26–84% in treated huts and 38–66% in the control. There were more unfed mosquitoes of all three species in the treated huts than in the control, for A. gambiae 35–64% and 10–53%, respectively, for M. uniformis 38–84% and 35–64%, respectively, and for C. p. fatigans 22–58% and 21–43%, respectively. Bioassays with wild-caught A. gambiae exposed to the treated surfaces for one hour, showed that the deposits remained highly toxic for 16 weeks on grass, six weeks on iron and two weeks, or less, on mud.