A bioassay to evaluate the efficacy of permethrin-impregnated screens used against phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Baringo District of Kenya.

Control of phlebotomine sandflies remains a difficult problem throughout the world because of the insects' very highly specialized breeding sites. Use of insecticides remains one effective methods for managing sandflies. The present studies were conducted to establish how long permethrin impregnated wall cloth remains effective against sandflies. Cotton cloth, impregnated with permethrin (0.5g/m2) were hung inside experimental houses in Baringo District, Kenya, for the control of sandflies. Small pieces of cloth were cut off from the screen every month for 12 months, and bioassayed against sandflies. The cloth was found to remain effective against sandflies for 6 months.