Phys.org October 12, 2020
A team of researchers in the US (New York University, University of Puerto Rico) heated the commercially available form of deltamethrin to 110°C/230°F for a few minutes and let it cool to room temperature; this resulted in a new crystallized form of deltamethrin, composed of long, tiny fibers radiating from a single point. When mosquitoes step on insecticide crystals, the insecticide is absorbed through their feet and, if effective, kills the mosquitoes. In tests the new form was up to 12 times more effective against mosquitoes than the existing form. The new form also remained stable—and able to rapidly kill mosquitoes—for at least three months. Epidemiological modeling that suggests that using the new form in indoor spraying in place of the original form would significantly suppress malaria transmission, even in regions with high levels of insecticide resistance and less of the new form would need to be used to achieve the same effect, potentially lowering the cost of mosquito control programs and reducing environmental exposure to the insecticide…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
New York University researchers have created a new crystal form of deltamethrin (right) resulting in an insecticide that is up to 12 times more effective against mosquitoes than the existing form (left). Credit: Jingxiang Yang, NYU