| abstract |
A method, compositions and apparatus are disclosed for causing the death of pupating insects, especially fleas, at all stages of the life cycle. The invention includes by both direct and residual insecticidal extermination of juveniles, adults, larvae and eggs, and also provides an environment of elevated humidity, temperature and pressure around pupal cocoons to cause the cocoons open quickly, so that the emergent insects are killed by residual insecticide, thus providing complete termination of an insect infestation and prevention of development of new infestations from subsequent emergence of metamorphosed insects from surviving pupa. Extermination occurs from the simultaneous application of a "residual" adulticide, a "residual" larvacide, and high temperature hot water under pressure to the infested location. The adulticides and larvacides may be inorganics, botanicals, organochlorides, organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, growth inhibitors or chitin inhibitor compounds, and may be present with synergists, emulsifiers or surface active agents. Preferred materials are permethrin, methoprene and fenoxycarb. The apparatus used includes a hot water generator, a mixer to mix the hot water and insecticides, an applicator to force the hot water/insecticide mixture into the infested location, a conduit to deliver the hot water and insecticide mixture to the applicator, and pressure or a pump to maintain the flow of the hot water and insecticide mixture for the desired application period. |