A Laboratory and Field Evaluation of Triflumuron (S.C. 48%) as a Larvicide on Malaria Vectors In the Natural Breeding Places in South of Iran

Malaria is one of the main parasitic diseases in south of Iran. Anopheles stephensi is known to be the main malaria vector in this area. The natural breeding places of this vector were different.Many of them had running water and other had standing water. The larvicidal activity of a new chitin synthesis inhibitor (Triflumuron, SC 48%) was studied in the laboratory and field conditions.In the laboratory studies, the efficacy of triflumuron on the third instar larvae of Anopheles stephensi was determined. These larvae were treated with triflumuron on different exposure times (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48 hour and continued exposure time). The results indicated that with the increase of the exposure time, the mortality will gradually increase to about 75% up to the 24 hour and to about 90% up to the continued exposure times. The results revealed that larvicide should be present at a desired concentration (about 0.0008 mg/l) in the larval breeding place. Triflumuron was applied at 48, 72, 96 and 120 gr.a.i/ha dosages.Triflumuron was effective on the larvae of anopheline mosqunes in the natural breeding place with standing water at 96 and 120 gr a.i/ha dosages. In the natural breeding place with running water, triflumuron was not effective at any dosages.