SUSCEPTIBILITY STATUS OF XENOPSYLLA CHEOPS AND X ASTIATO DDT
ARVIND KUMAR *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, J. V.COLLEGE, BARAUT-250 611, INDIA
KAUSHAL KUMAR *
DIVI. OF ENTOMOLOGY, N.I.C.D., SAM NATH MARG, DELHI-110 054, INDIA
P. P. SINGH *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, J. V.COLLEGE, BARAUT-250 611, INDIA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In the present study, the susceptibility status of two flea species namely Xenopsylla cheopis and X. astia, collected from Distt. Baghpat of western U.P. India has been discussed. The fleas were tested for 4% DDT by WHO standard methods for 1 hr. The Xenopsylla cheopis showed 82.69% mortality while X, astia showed 92.66%. Males were found more susceptible than females in both the species. The results showed that the fleas of Xenopsylla cheopis possessed a considerable degree of resistance to DDT. It is inferred that the fleas have been exposed to DDT in local environment
due to various sanitary conditions.
Keywords: Susceptibility, Xenophylla cheopis (Rat flea), X. astia, DDT