Bioassay techniques for evaluating pesticides against Dermatophagoides spp. (Acari: Pyroglyphidae).

ABSTRACT

Three bioassay techniques for testing pesticides against the American house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae Hughes, and the European house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Trouessart), were evaluated using cypermethrin as a standard. All 3 bioassay techniques gave linear responses, and can be used for evaluation of different properties of compounds. The slide dip technique tests for contact activity, the plastic petri dish technique for residual activity on a nonporous surface, and the fabric technique for residual activity on a porous surface. The 2 species of house dust mites responded similarly to all 3 bioassays, indicating that these 2 species are equally susceptible to cypermethrin under a variety of test conditions. In further tests with the fabric technique, the composition of the fabrics used did not significantly affect the toxicity of the compound tested.