Abstract
The larvicidal effectiveness of slow-release tablet formulations of the chitin synthesis inhibitor Dudim (R) (diflubenzuron) and the bioinsecticide Natular (TM) (spinosad) against mosquito larvae of Aedes aegypti (L.) has been evaluated. The results showed that the test formulations provided long-term residual control against the larvae. Effective control giving 90-100 % inhibition of adult emergence was achieved for 10 weeks post-treatment for diflubenzuron and 7 weeks for spinosad. In addition, larval treatments with slow-release diflubenzuron formulations led to a marked prolongation in the time needed for blood meal digestion and a reduction in the reproductive potential of adult survivors. On the other hand, larval treatments with slow-release formulations of spinosad tablets affect neither the time of blood meal digestion nor the reproductive capacity of mosquito adults that emerged from surviving larvae.