TESTING OF A DRUG WITH JUVENILE ACTIVITY AGAINST FLEAS WHICH ARE VECTORS OF THE PLAGUE PATHOGEN

Abstract

Laboratory experiments have shown that 100% lethality of the preimaginal phases of Xenopsylla fleas can be attained by contact with 2.5 .cntdot. 10-4 ml/g of geraniol n-chlorophenyl ether, an analog of the juvenile hormone. Reduction of the juvenoid dose 10-fold resulted in hatching of only 1.3-62.2% of mature fleas from larvae, this value being different for various flea species. Sensitivity of different flea species to the insecticide varied. X. skrjabini were found to be the most sensitive, X. conformis ranked second, and X. cheopis ranked third in sensitivity. The described insecticide disturbed the vital processes in the fleas and prolonged their developmental phases, thus ensuring the maximal death rate of the fleas during metamorphosis.