Two pyrethroids, i.e., alphacypermethrin and lambdacyhalothrin, were evaluated against field populations of the housefly Musca domestica L. and the blow fly Chrysomya megacephala Fabricius at a garbage dump in Malaysia. Alphacypermethrin and lambdacyhalothrin proved equally effective as adulticides while lambdacyhalothrin showed a larvicidal activity as well.

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Key Words : Adulticide, alphacypermethrin, ANOVA, Chrysomya megacephala Fabricius lambdacyhalothrin, larvicide, Malaysia, Musca domestica L., Sungai Besi.

1.Accepted on 2.6.1994.

2.Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

3.Vector Control Unit, Department of Health, Municipality of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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When ovitraps were maintained over a 15 week period during the 1990 dengue epidemic in Trinidad, the percentage positive for Aedes aegypti L. eggs in weekly collections ranged from 28 to 81 per cent in hay infusion media and 22 to 59 per cent in plain water traps. There were significantly more eggs (P=0.0157) in hay infusion traps (x = 11.29,CL; 9.78, 12.8) than in plain water ones (x = 7.17,CL;6.19,8.14), though the oviposition patterns in both sets of traps were similar. Also, more eggs were laid in urban (x = 13.17,CL;11.48,14.87) than in the rural (x = 6.16,Cl;5.28,7.04) areas (P<0.001). The relationship of population density of Ae. aegypti in the study areas and the epidemic of dengue transmission are discussed.

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Key Words : Aedes aegypti L.; hay infusion, ovitraps, rural, Trinidad, urban

1. Accepted on 3.6.1994.

2.Caribbean Epidemiology Centnre (CAREC), P.O.Box 164, Port of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies.

3. Insect Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, St. Joseph, Trinidad, West Indies.

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The survival rate of female tsetse flies, Glossina palpalis palpalis Robineau - Desvoidy, 1930 fed on pooled camel blood was compared with those fed on pooled cow blood slaughtered in the same abattoir. Female tsetse flies were also fed separately on in vitro diet of blood from anaemic cow and normal cow. By day 25, the survival rate of flies fed in vitro on pooled cow (88 per cent) and pooled camel (86.5 per cent) were significantly different (P<0.05) from flies fed on anaemic cow blood (56.7 per cent) and normal blood (60 per cent).

The productivity rate of 0.67, 0.65, 0.63 and 0.70 puparia per initial number of female flies fed on pooled camel blood, pooled cow blood, anaemic cow blood and normal cow blood were almost the same respectively (P=0.05). The mean puparial weight (MPWT) of flies fed on pooled camel blood (25.96 mg.) was relatively lower (P<0.05) than flies fed on pooled cow blood (27.80 mg.) while flies fed on anaemic cow blood produced MPWT of 25.8 mg. which was significantly lower than those fed on normal cow blood (27.00 mg.). The study has highlighted the relationship between the status of the blood as an in vitro blood diet and the survival and productivity of in vitro fed female G. p. palpalis

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Key Words : Anaemic cow blood; camel blood, cow blood, Glossina palpalis palpalis Robineau - Desvoidy, 1930, in vitro feeding, mean puparial weight, nutritional status, productivity rate, survival rate.

1. Accepted on 4.6.1994.

2. Dept. of Microbiology, University of Jos, P.M.B. 2084, Jos, Nigeria.

3. Dept. of Zoology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.

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In 1206 man - hours, 1709 specimens of Anopheles splendidus were collected in 21 villages of Bastar district, Madhya Pradesh, India. This insect was found resting indoors during the day time. A uniform feeding pattern was not seen all round the year. This species appeared to be more numerous at the end of winter in the North - eastern plateau with hot - moist climate and an elevation range from 609 to 761 m. This Anopheles was not captured on human bait. In precipitin tests females fed on human blood were not detected. None of the females dissected had infection of malaria parasites.

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Key Words : Abundance, Anopheles splendidus Koidzumi, 1920, Bastar district, bionomics, distribution, diurnal resting sites, epidemiological significance, feeding times, malaria, man - biting rate, ovarioles, precipitin tests, seasonal prevalence, vector.

1. Accepted on 5.6.1994.

2. Assistant Entomologist, National Malaria Eradication Programme, Jagdalpur, Bastar district, Madhya Pradesh, India.