Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2009
Results are given of laboratory trials of insecticides, carried out in Kenya, against two pests of agricultural crops in East Africa. Against Epilachna hirta (Thnb.) (Col., COCCINELLIDAE), the adults and larvae of which feed on the foliage of wheat and other crops, dusts containing 0·5 or 2 per cent, parathion, applied at rates to give 0·74 to 2·97 mg. active ingredient per sq. ft., were the most rapidly effective against the adults. A 5 per cent. DDT dust, at rates giving 0·36 to 5·82 mg. technical DDT per sq. ft., was less rapid in action but produced very good results by the end of three days. A proprietary BHC dust, used at rates giving deposits of from 0·23 to 1·04 mg. γ isomer per sq. ft., was less effective and, at the highest rate used, only reached 100 per cent, mortality after eight days.
Several insecticides were tested in emulsified solutions against Cylas puncticollis Boh. (Col., CURCULIONIDAE), one of the important sweet-potato weevils of East Africa. All the insecticides were applied at concentrations of 0·02, 0·1 and 0·5 per cent, active ingredient, and at a deposit rate of 0·813 mg. of spray per sq. cm. DDT was the most effective after 18 hours, but γ BHC was only slightly inferior.